NWFP: ANOTHER CARGO TERMINAL ATTACK NEAR PESHAWAR

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000054

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/18/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: ANOTHER CARGO TERMINAL ATTACK NEAR PESHAWAR

REF: A) PESHAWAR 29, B) 08 PESHAWAR 527

CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
--------------


1. (C) In the second attack in as many months, suspected
militants destroyed trailers carrying coalition supplies bound
for Afghanistan near Peshawar on March 16. While the police and
fire brigade responded within 40 minutes of the attack,
militants had already departed the scene. In a previous attack
in early February, police response was quicker and less cargo
was damaged. As militants are being pushed out of Bajaur and
Khyber agencies because of military operations some militants
may have settled, at least for now, near the provincial capital
where they face a poorly equipped and less well trained security
force - the police. End Summary.

Militants Destroy Containers and Cargo
--------------


2. (C) In the second attack in as many months, militants bombed
and burned approximately 16 trailers carrying coalition supplies
including vehicles bound for Afghanistan, on the edge of
Peshawar in the predawn hours of March 16. While the police and
fire brigade responded within 40 minutes of the attack,
militants had already departed the scene. No one has claimed
responsibility for the attack.


3. (C) According to local authorities, approximately 100
militants overpowered the four guards present at the terminal,
injuring one while two others sustained burn injuries. The
attackers entered through the main gate of the terminal, placed
explosive charges under the trailers, poured gasoline on the
cargo and fired rockets at the site. Drivers claimed that they
had been fearful of a militant attack on their cargo and had
requested extra police protection for the site. Officials for
the contract carrier (Agility) have not had the opportunity to
date to inspect the site of the attack to assess the damage.

Only Military Cargo Burned
--------------


4. (C) Pictures of the site taken after the attack show only
trailers with military cargo were burned, while hundreds of
containers near-by, with unrelated cargo, were left untouched.

Previous Attacks
--------------


5. (C) In a previous attack in early February, police response
was quicker and less cargo was damaged (Ref. A). A more serious
attack during December left 250 trailers destroyed and one guard
dead (Ref. B).

Trucks Again Forced to Park Near Peshawar
--------------


6. (S) Agility has recently been forced to use Peshawar again as
a trans-load site due to the Government of the Islamabad Capital
Territory denying them use of terminal facilities at Tarnol,
part of the ICT. Drivers who since December stayed overnight
along the route, choose to remain outside the troubled province.
Only logistical or administrative paperwork difficulties have
been cited by previous drivers as reasons for an overnight stay
in or near Peshawar even since the December attack.


Comment
--------------


8. (C) As militants are being pushed out of Bajaur and Khyber
agencies because of military operations some may have settled,
at least for now, near the provincial capital where they face a
poorly equipped and less well trained security force - the
police. Police response may have been slower this time, than
during the February attack, due to the size of the militant
force, resulting from additional militants relocating in or near
Peshawar from conflict areas, and the deployments of the police

PESHAWAR 00000054 002 OF 002


related to the lawyers' "Long March" which decreased the numbers
of police available.
TRACY