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RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4700

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000473 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  9/29/2018 
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PINR PK
SUBJECT: IGFC TARIQ KHAN ANNOUNCES NEW OPERATION, EXPLAINS PLANS, 
SHORTCOMINGS 
 
REF: PESHAWAR  472 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer, 
Peshawar, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (a), (b), (d) 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) Inspector General of the Frontier Corps Tariq Khan told 
Acting Principal Officer Via and Deputy Director ODRP Islamabad 
BG Dibartolomoe, on 23 September that an operation in Derra Adem 
Khel had begun that day.  The meeting focused on the 
shortcomings and planned changes for the Frontier Corps.  These 
were highlighted by a need to establish four sector 
headquarters, shortages of personnel, weapons and communication 
equipment.  Changes called for by Khan included, doubling the 
salary of Frontier Corps Soldiers and changing the Uniform used 
in the Area of Operations.  Current operations in Bajaur, Swat 
and Derra Adam Khel mean that a long awaited Mitchni offensive 
near Peshawar by FC will have to wait.  End summary. 
 
Operation to Open Kohat Tunnel Begins 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Khan said that an operation had begun in Derra Adam Khel 
that had as one of it's objectives to clear the Kohat or 
Friendship Tunnel, prior to EID.  He added that other planned 
operations, not yet started, including one planned for Mitchni, 
on the outskirts of Peshawar, would have to wait as the current 
deployments in Bajaur, Swat and Derra Adam Khel had all 
available assets committed. 
 
Sector Headquarters for Frontier Corps 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Khan explained that he planned to establish four sector 
headquarters and provide their respective commanders with 
greater autonomy which would greatly increase effectiveness of 
the units by allowing greater initiative by local commanders. 
He pointed to the success he enjoyed as the 14th Division 
Commander in fighting miscreants in Punjab province as evidence 
that this concept and his other plans would be effective.  Khan 
stated that sector headquarters would be located in Tank, Bannu 
and two other locations.  His vision is that each sector 
headquarters should have a school for the children of Frontier 
Corps personnel, a dispensary, and housing for the families of 
those deployed.  He explained that housing would prevent threats 
to a soldier's family while deployed.  He requested that the 
medical facility planned for Manzai be relocated to either 
Jandola or Tank as Manzai did not have the infrastructure to 
support the facility. 
 
Need for Sniper Rifles, Radios and Protective Vests 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶3. (C) Khan provided a detailed list of needs to Dibartolomoe 
which included requirements for sniper rifles, communications 
equipment, and protective vests.  He substantiated the needs by 
pointing out that the local taliban had better weapons and 
communications equipment than the FC.  He mentioned that only 
half of FC's VHF radios were encrypted.  He stated that his 
forces were relying far too heavily on cell phones for 
communication and that many of their radios were in poor 
condition and had not been tested in a communications exercise 
for over a year.  Something he directed his staff to change 
immediately during our meeting.  He also mentioned the need for 
additional protective vests. 
 
Shortage of Units, Officers and Recruits 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Khan complained that 14 of the 59 wings of the FC are 
currently seconded to the army and that 8000 slots for recruits 
was being held up by the Ministry of the Interior because of a 
"ban on recruitment" which he claimed did not legally apply to 
the FC.  Khan stated that "it is a political issue, not money." 
(Note: A wing is 600 personnel. End note) Khan continued by 
asserting that FC personnel problems go even further.  He 
currently has a 71 percent deficiency in officers, or only one 
 
PESHAWAR 00000473  002 OF 002 
 
 
commission officer per unit.  This situation requires largely 
under trained non commissioned officers to fill positions 
normally given to experienced officers.  He said that selection 
of officers for his units should be made from a group of army 
applicants after individual interviews, bringing in only the 
best. 
 
Rotation not Relief 
------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) According to Khan, the FC has historically been a force 
designed to stay in the area of operation without relief. 
Therefore calls for relief of FC units by other security forces 
were misguided.  He stated that a better plan would be to have 
sufficient forces within FC to rotate a wing at a time into 
combat from it's respective sector headquarters.  He emphasized 
that he planned to adopt this approach.  (Note: This may have 
been in response to those who call for army units to be 
withdrawn from other areas to provide relief to FC.  End note.) 
 
Change to the Pay Structure 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Khan stated he intended to increase the pay of FC 
personnel from the current rupee equivalent of 50 to 100 USD. 
He offered that the need for the change was due to the salary 
being offered by the local taliban which currently pay a recruit 
the local equivalent of 100 USD or more. 
 
New uniforms 
------------ 
 
¶7. (C) Khan said that he intended to authorize a new uniform for 
the FC.  The changed battle dress would be similar to the Punjab 
Ranger Uniform.  He explained this would be more appropriate for 
the kind of combat missions and locations of service by the FC. 
He offered that the current uniform would be saved for use on 
ceremonial occasions. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (C) While calls for additional assistance are not new from 
FC, the relatively new IGFC exuded a confidence and grasp of his 
units needs, shortcomings and a plan to address them that 
appeared to instill confidence in his staff.  Whether he is able 
to obtain the kind of resources and support for the changes he 
envisions is another question. 
VIA