NWFP: MILITANT ATTACK ON CARGO TERMINAL CAUSES MINIMAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000069

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/4/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: MILITANT ATTACK ON CARGO TERMINAL CAUSES MINIMAL
DAMAGE

REF: A) PESHAWAR 54 B) PESHAWAR 29 C) 08 PESHAWAR 527

CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne M. Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
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(C) In the third incident in two months, suspected militants
attacked a transport terminal near Peshawar storing NATO and
ISAF supplies headed to Afghanistan March 28. Militants
overwhelmed several terminal guards in the early morning attack
using rocket launchers and automatic machine guns. The
militants destroyed four trucks utilizing petrol bombs. Several
dozen police responded within minutes, fought the attackers in a
one-hour gun battle, and forced the militants to flee. Similar
to an attack in early February, the police and fire brigade
response seems to have been prompt. End Summary.

Militants Destroy Four Trucks
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2. (C) In the third attack in two months, about 40 to 50
militants destroyed four trucks in a predawn attack on a
transport terminal near Peshawar on March 28. The transport
terminal, known alternately as Farhad Terminal, or Venus
Terminal, carries coalition supplies, mostly food, to
Afghanistan. The militants attacked at 2 am local time with
rocket launchers, automatic machine guns and petrol bombs. The
assault also caused the destruction of an office, six
generators, and a workshop. No one has claimed responsibility
for the attack.


3. (C) According to local authorities, several dozen police
responded to the attack within minutes and engaged the militants
in a one-hour gun-battle. The militants then fled with no
reports of injuries or deaths at the scene.

No U.S. Military Cargo Burned
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4. (C) Several local contacts reported that Farhad (Venus)
Terminal does not transport U.S. military cargo, but caters
instead to NATO and ISAF goods. The Farhad Terminal manager
complained that, besides the four trucks, militants had caused
major destruction to his business property, not cargo.

18 Militant Targets of Opportunity
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5. (S) Local contacts estimate that approximately 18 cargo
terminals exist in the Peshawar area, mostly concentrated 10-15
km south of the city. These 18 privately owned cargo terminals
consist of various size and are run with various degrees of
professionalism. The five cargo terminals specializing in U.S
military supplies, 1) Bilal; 2) Agility; 3) Raaziq
International; 4) Deugro; and 5)PWL are concentrated in an
approximately 4 km cluster, on Ring Road, about 15 km south of
the US Consulate. Seven other cargo terminals, including Farhad
(Venus),cater to NATO and ISAF supplies. Most of the 18 cargo
terminals in the Peshawar area are not located in what would be
called an industrial park by US standards; there is no zoning in
the Peshawar region. The cargo terminals abut residential
neighborhoods, causing locals constant concern about the
security and allowing militants to assemble and flee into urban
areas. Local contacts say that the militants know exactly which
terminals contain cargo, equipment and consumable goods.

Previous Attacks
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5. (C) In a previous attack on March 16, police response was
slower and more cargo was damaged (Ref. A). The police response
this time was similar to the timely response in early February
(Ref. B). A more serious attack during December left 250
trailers destroyed and one guard dead (Ref. C).

Comment
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8. (C) Attacks on cargo terminals in the Peshawar area, which

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had been front page news, are now becoming more common and
moving behind the fold. Militants have 18 targets of
opportunity to choose from and, because security forces are
stretched thin, such attacks will likely continue in the near
future. But if police response is swift as in was the case this
time, damage may be limited.
TRACY