Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PESHAWAR9
2009-01-13 12:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Peshawar
Cable title:
NWFP: ATTACK ON PAKISTAN SECURITY FORCES IN MOHMAND BY
how-toVZCZCXRO5542 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHPW #0009/01 0131224 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 131224Z JAN 09 FM AMCONSUL PESHAWAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7802 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 4588 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE 1739 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE 1732 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 1006 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 1372 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 0627 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0768 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE 0675 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0626 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0720 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUMICEA/USSOCOM INTEL OPS CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4860
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000009
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/13/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS SNAR PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: ATTACK ON PAKISTAN SECURITY FORCES IN MOHMAND BY
MILITANTS ENTERING FROM AFGHANISTAN
CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000009
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/13/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS SNAR PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: ATTACK ON PAKISTAN SECURITY FORCES IN MOHMAND BY
MILITANTS ENTERING FROM AFGHANISTAN
CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) In an unprecedented move by militants, at least 200
fighters crossed the border from Afghanistan into Mohmand Agency
of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and attacked a
paramilitary base of the Frontier Corps the evening of January
10. Government forces responded to the assault with helicopter
gunships and F-16 bombing runs which, according to Frontier
Corps personnel, drove the militants back towards the border
with Afghanistan. Narcotic Affairs Section (NAS) helicopters
and one Cessna Caravan flew four missions with their Pakistan
crews to the besieged troops, evacuated eight casualties and
performed reconnaissance.
2. (C) According to 11th Corps, winter snowfall had been
expected to keep operations in Bajaur and Mohmand relatively low
for several weeks. While it may be too soon to tell if this
attack signals a change in strategy of the militants, it is
clear that security forces are having to react to something they
have not seen before--sizeable forces of militants entering from
Afghanistan attacking Pakistan security forces. End Summary.
Militants Attack From Afghanistan
--------------
3. (C) In an unprecedented move by militants, at least 200
fighters crossed the border from Afghanistan into Mohmand Agency
of the FATA and attacked a paramilitary base of the Frontier
Corps the evening of January 10. According to Major General
Amjad, Pakistan's Director of Military Operations, the militants
were Mehsud tribesman crossing from Waziristan through
Afghanistan and back into Pakistan. The resulting combat left
50 militants and six Frontier Corps personnel dead, 16 wounded
and six missing.
Government Response
--------------
4. (C) Government forces responded to the assault with
helicopter gunships and F-16 bombing runs which, according to
Frontier Corps personnel, drove the militants back towards the
border with Afghanistan. Scattered skirmishes continued into
January 12.
NAS Air Wing Supports FC During Attack
--------------
5. (SBU) Narcotic Affairs Section (NAS) helicopters and one
Cessna Caravan flew four missions with their Pakistan crews to
the besieged troops and evacuated eight casualties.
Additionally, they performed reconnaissance and located militant
forces whom were subsequently engaged by the helicopter
gunships. The crews of the NAS aircraft did not report being
fired upon at anytime and the aircraft did not sustain any hits
or damage.
Lull In Fighting?
--------------
6. (C) The attack near Mamad Gatt, Mohmand Agency came after a
lull in fighting in both Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies. (Note:
Mamad Gatt is approximately 4 miles from the border and 2 miles
northeast of Mandurai. End note.) According to 11th Corps,
winter snowfall had been expected to keep operations in Bajaur
and Mohmand relatively low for several weeks.
7. (C) Pakistan Security Forces began an air campaign in mid
December in preparation for a yet to be launched ground campaign
in Mohmand. In nearby Bajaur Agency to the north of Mohmand, a
ground campaign has been ongoing since August. This included
some of the heaviest fighting seen in years and reports that
some militants fled into adjacent agencies including Mohmand.
Comment
--------------
PESHAWAR 00000009 002 OF 002
8. (C) This is the first time in post's memory, that a militant
force of significant size has crossed into Pakistan to attack
GOP security elements. With the exception of operations in
Bajaur, where militants directly attacked Pakistan military
forces at Loisam and Kar, militants have usually scattered upon
arrival of government security forces. It is too soon to tell
if this attack signals a change in militant strategy to use
forces entering from Afghanistan to attack into Pakistan or
simply reflects a determination to hold onto Mohmand as a
staging area for operations across the border.
TRACY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/13/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS SNAR PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: ATTACK ON PAKISTAN SECURITY FORCES IN MOHMAND BY
MILITANTS ENTERING FROM AFGHANISTAN
CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) In an unprecedented move by militants, at least 200
fighters crossed the border from Afghanistan into Mohmand Agency
of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and attacked a
paramilitary base of the Frontier Corps the evening of January
10. Government forces responded to the assault with helicopter
gunships and F-16 bombing runs which, according to Frontier
Corps personnel, drove the militants back towards the border
with Afghanistan. Narcotic Affairs Section (NAS) helicopters
and one Cessna Caravan flew four missions with their Pakistan
crews to the besieged troops, evacuated eight casualties and
performed reconnaissance.
2. (C) According to 11th Corps, winter snowfall had been
expected to keep operations in Bajaur and Mohmand relatively low
for several weeks. While it may be too soon to tell if this
attack signals a change in strategy of the militants, it is
clear that security forces are having to react to something they
have not seen before--sizeable forces of militants entering from
Afghanistan attacking Pakistan security forces. End Summary.
Militants Attack From Afghanistan
--------------
3. (C) In an unprecedented move by militants, at least 200
fighters crossed the border from Afghanistan into Mohmand Agency
of the FATA and attacked a paramilitary base of the Frontier
Corps the evening of January 10. According to Major General
Amjad, Pakistan's Director of Military Operations, the militants
were Mehsud tribesman crossing from Waziristan through
Afghanistan and back into Pakistan. The resulting combat left
50 militants and six Frontier Corps personnel dead, 16 wounded
and six missing.
Government Response
--------------
4. (C) Government forces responded to the assault with
helicopter gunships and F-16 bombing runs which, according to
Frontier Corps personnel, drove the militants back towards the
border with Afghanistan. Scattered skirmishes continued into
January 12.
NAS Air Wing Supports FC During Attack
--------------
5. (SBU) Narcotic Affairs Section (NAS) helicopters and one
Cessna Caravan flew four missions with their Pakistan crews to
the besieged troops and evacuated eight casualties.
Additionally, they performed reconnaissance and located militant
forces whom were subsequently engaged by the helicopter
gunships. The crews of the NAS aircraft did not report being
fired upon at anytime and the aircraft did not sustain any hits
or damage.
Lull In Fighting?
--------------
6. (C) The attack near Mamad Gatt, Mohmand Agency came after a
lull in fighting in both Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies. (Note:
Mamad Gatt is approximately 4 miles from the border and 2 miles
northeast of Mandurai. End note.) According to 11th Corps,
winter snowfall had been expected to keep operations in Bajaur
and Mohmand relatively low for several weeks.
7. (C) Pakistan Security Forces began an air campaign in mid
December in preparation for a yet to be launched ground campaign
in Mohmand. In nearby Bajaur Agency to the north of Mohmand, a
ground campaign has been ongoing since August. This included
some of the heaviest fighting seen in years and reports that
some militants fled into adjacent agencies including Mohmand.
Comment
--------------
PESHAWAR 00000009 002 OF 002
8. (C) This is the first time in post's memory, that a militant
force of significant size has crossed into Pakistan to attack
GOP security elements. With the exception of operations in
Bajaur, where militants directly attacked Pakistan military
forces at Loisam and Kar, militants have usually scattered upon
arrival of government security forces. It is too soon to tell
if this attack signals a change in militant strategy to use
forces entering from Afghanistan to attack into Pakistan or
simply reflects a determination to hold onto Mohmand as a
staging area for operations across the border.
TRACY