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