NWFP: HANGU TENSIONS INCREASING

C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000079 E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/25/2019 TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV EAID PK SUBJECT: NWFP: HANGU TENSIONS INCREASING CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate Peshawar, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Following the April 18 suicide attack on a military checkpoint in Hangu District (Kohat Division, Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP)) and in the wake of the military operations in neighboring Orakzai Agency (Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)),Post contacts report the situation in Hangu is becoming extremely tense. There are concerns that the operations will result in Orakzai residents moving into Hangu, possibly exacerbating the security environment. Non-government organizations (NGOs) are facing growing pressures as movements around the city are becoming increasingly more difficult. Hangu citizens are worried that with the recent Taliban take-over of Buner, Hangu, with its growing issues and deteriorating security, will be forgotten. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On April 18, a suicide bomber detonated his vehicle at a military checkpoint in Hangu (Kohat District, Northwest Frontier Province),killing 27 people (including 23 soldiers) and wounding approximately 50 others. Earlier that same day, one person was killed and several others were injured when another explosive device was detonated at a Hangu bazaar. ¶3. (SBU) On April 22, the Pakistan Military warned residents of Orakzai Agency in the FATA to leave the agency before military aerial bombardment operations began. According to local press reports, helicopters dropped pamphlets, announcing the upcoming Taliban offensive scheduled to begin on April 24. However, Post contacts in Hangu reported that the Pakistan Military started its operations in Orakzai on April 22, targeting suspected militant hideouts in the heavily populated areas. As the operations increase in neighboring Orakzai, the residents, local hospitals, and NGOs within Hangu are anticipating large numbers of conflict-affected persons crossing the border into their area. ¶4. (C) Post contacts also report due to a recent rash of kidnappings and militant activities, the residents of Hangu are growing fearful to leave their homes. Reports indicate commercial and market districts are closed and mass transportation reduced for fear of retaliatory militant attacks due to the Orakzai operations. NGOs have been warned by the Hangu political administration to use extreme caution in their movements and activities as the district government cannot provide security at this time. (Note. Head of Sub-Delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) noted to Peshawar Principal Officer on April 23 his concern for their operations in Hangu and how they will be impacted as security deteriorates there - septel. End note.) Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Hangu citizens are worried that with the recent Taliban take-over of Buner, Hangu, with its growing issues and deteriorating security, will be forgotten -- a pattern that we have seen repeatedly over the past three years as security forces have attempted to cope with multiple hot spots in the NWFP and FATA. Based on the April 16 civil-military coordination meeting in Peshawar (reftel),we have already directed the build up of pre-positioned relief items in the NWFP's southern districts to assist the government if further military operations result in the displacement of Orakzai residents into the Hangu area. TRACY