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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000537 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  12/16/2018 
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PINR SNAR PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: GOVERNOR GHANI AGREES TO RESUME FREE FLOW OF TRUCK 
TRAFFIC 
 
REF: PESHAWAR 523 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer, 
Peshawar, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (a), (b), (d) 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (S/NF) Northwest Frontier Province Governor (NWFP) Owais 
Ghani told Principal Officer (PO) during a December 13 visit to 
his office in Peshawar that the free flow of truck traffic 
between Peshawar and the Afghanistan border near Torkham could 
resume now that the Eid holidays are over.  There were three 
groups that attacked the truck terminals in the run up to Eid, 
one of which was led by a local militant affiliated with 
Baitullah Mehsud.  The Governor said that the militant used the 
aliases "Yahya," "Idrat," and "Mustafa Kamran", full name Maulvi 
Hijrat Yahya, and was captured when he came to Peshawar for Eid 
shopping (NFI).  Publicly, the Governor said, the government is 
not confirming reports circulating in the press about this 
arrest.  (Note:  While there may be some confusion over the 
aliases used by the individual captured, the individual in 
custody appears to have played a substantial role in planning 
the killing of our USAID contractor and the attack on the 
Principal Officer.  End Note.) 
 
¶2. (C) The Governor said that he had raised again the need for 
funds to increase the size of the police force with President 
Zardari but had received no commitment.  The truck terminals on 
the southern side of Peshawar that have been the site of recent 
attacks were vulnerable because some had no walls and a very 
small guard force on duty. (Note: This point was confirmed by a 
Consulate employee who visited the site.)  Ghani suggested that 
shipping contractors look for alternative sites, possibly near 
Attock, to stage cargo.  Ghani's proposal to stage convoys 
outside of the NWFP in neighboring Punjab province is probably 
motivated by a genuine desire to avoid future attacks and not 
simply to move the problem out of his area of responsibility. 
End Summary. 
 
Ghani Agrees to Free Flow of Truck Traffic 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (C) Ghani agreed that the free flow of truck traffic between 
Peshawar and the Afghanistan border near Torkham could resume 
now that the Eid holidays are over.  The Governor felt that the 
volume could average 75 trucks per day in the run up to Muharram 
but that he would tell the Khyber Political Agent to surge on 
some days approaching 150 trucks per day.  He also said that the 
route would not be completely closed during Muharram, but the 
flow of traffic is expected to be greatly reduced in an as yet 
unspecified fifteen day period around the Muharram holidays. 
(Note: The month of Muharram falls from December 18 - January 
15, 2009.  The officially observed holidays which are generally 
2-3 days are expected to fall on dates o/a January 5.) 
 
Recent Terminal Attacks 
----------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Ghani told PO truck terminals on the southern side of 
Peshawar which have been the site of recent attacks, were 
vulnerable because some had no walls and a small guard force on 
duty.  He claimed that security for the terminals was the 
primary responsibility of the terminal owners who should 
strengthen the guard force at each site.  Ghani said there were 
three groups that attacked the terminals, one of which was led 
by a militant using several aliases, including "Yahya," "Idrat," 
and "Mustafa Kamran," whom they had captured when he came to 
Peshawar for Eid shopping (date of arrest NFI).  While there are 
reports circulating in the press about the arrest, the 
government, Ghani said, is not publicly confirming the capture. 
The origins and leaders of the other groups were as yet unknown. 
 According to post contacts and press reporting dozens of trucks 
and containers of coalition supplies have been destroyed during 
the first two weeks of December, including an attack in the 
early hours of December 13 (reftel). 
 
Ghani Meets with President Zardari 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Ghani said he had raised again the need for funds to 
 
PESHAWAR 00000537  002 OF 002 
 
 
increase the size of the police force with Zardari in a December 
12 meeting.  He complained that the immediate release of funds 
to hire additional police promised a month earlier had not yet 
materialized.  He told Zardari "you want results but you are not 
giving us the resources."  Ghani said a meeting with Zardari, 
himself and the Secretary of Finance would likely occur on 
December 16 or 17 in Islamabad.  IG Police Malik Naveed told PO 
on December 11 that NWFP Chief Minister Hoti is dipping into the 
development budget to pay for the planned 2,500 Elite Police, of 
which 1,000 would be assigned to Peshawar.  Ghani confirmed this 
by stating that GOP funds planned for bridge and road projects 
were being diverted to fund the police. 
 
Ghani Suggests Alternative Sites To Stage Cargo 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶6. (C) Ghani suggested that shipping contractors look for 
alternative sites to stage cargo based on the lack of security 
at the current sites.  His preferred site is Attock, east of 
Peshawar in Punjab Province.  He reasoned that trucks could take 
off early in the morning from Attock, and pass through the 
Khyber Pass the same day.  He stated that he is committed to 
working the clearances to make the same day transit possible. 
Ghani said that terminals in Peshawar could still be used as a 
brief rest stop or as a backup for sudden or unforeseen delays, 
but the owners of the terminals in the Peshawar area had to 
strengthen security at these sites. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7. (C) Ghani seemed engaged and aware of the details surrounding 
truck traffic for coalition supplies.  His proposal to stage 
convoys outside of the NWFP in neighboring Punjab province is 
probably motivated by a genuine desire to avoid future attacks 
and not simply to move the problem out of his area of 
responsibility. 
VIA