R 160639Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL LAHORE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3877
INFO AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 
AMCONSUL LAHORE

UNCLAS LAHORE 000006 
 
 
DS/OSAC, DS/IP/SCA, RSO ISLAMABAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT APER ASEC
SUBJECT: LAHORE ANNUAL OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC) 
CRIME AND SAFETY REPORTS 
 
REF: 08 STATE 132056 
 
 
¶1. Overall Crime and Safety Situation: 
 
(U) Due to on-going concerns about the possibility of terrorist 
activity directed against American citizens and interests, the 
Department of State continues to advise U.S. citizens to defer 
non-essential travel to Pakistan. Family members of official 
Americans assigned to the Embassy in Islamabad and to the three 
consulates in Pakistan were ordered to leave the country in 
March 2002 and have not been allowed to return.  U.S. Consulate 
Peshawar instituted a drawdown of non-essential personnel in 
November 2008. 
 
(U) Continued U.S. military action in Afghanistan and Iraq and 
ongoing Government of Pakistan efforts to curb an extremist 
insurgency have all contributed to increased Anti-American 
sentiment in Pakistan. Operations by the Pakistani military 
against insurgents along the Afghan-Pakistani border have 
resulted in a backlash of terrorist actions directed against 
President Asif Ali Zardari's government and its police force. As 
these operations continue it is expected that reprisals will 
increase in kind.  Continued reporting from an array of sources 
suggests numerous non-specific threats stemming from the 
remnants of the Taliban, splinter cells of Al-Qaida, and 
militants sympathetic to their cause. 
 
(U) Overall criminal activity in Lahore increased this past 
calendar year.  There are occasional reports from the American 
community at large of residential break-ins.   U.S. Embassy 
personnel have on a few occasions reported that while out in 
town, local individuals have made anti-American slurs to them, 
though these incidents have yet to turn violent.  Lahore is a 
city under development with a population of one and a half 
million. As the city grows in size and population, so does the 
crime rate.  As the Pakistani economy continues to worsen and 
the shortage of energy, fuel and food grows, it is anticipated 
that the rate of crime will increase across the country. 
 
(SBU) The roads in Lahore and between major cities are paved and 
adequate.  However, in outlying areas the roads may be unpaved. 
There have been vehicle accidents involving U.S. Consulate 
personnel.  This is due to Americans' inexperience of driving on 
the left side of the road, poorly trained and unskilled local 
drivers as well as local conditions such as pedestrians walking 
in the road without looking for oncoming traffic.  Driving at 
night outside the city is not safe due to the large number of 
individuals, carts, and cattle that travel along the unlit roads. 
 
¶2. Political Violence: 
 
(U) Over the past 30 years there has been a history of political 
violence in Pakistan of targeting U.S. and Western interests as 
well as sectarian violence.  There have been attacks against 
U.S. diplomatic personnel in Pakistan with the number increasing 
substantially in 2008.  In 2002, a suicide bomber attacked a 
Protestant International Church in Islamabad a quarter of a mile 
from the U.S. Embassy killing five people.  In December 2007, 
former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, was killed during an 
attack in Rawalpindi sparking protests and riots across the 
country.  In January 2008, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle 
killed 26 (22 of whom were police officers) and injured 70 in 
Lahore.  In February 2008, a motorcycle suicide bomber crashed 
into a Pakistani Armed Forces bus in Rawalpindi killing 11, 
injuring 45.  In March 2008, a car bomb destroyed the FIA 
building in Lahore, killing 25.  In March 2008, a satchel bomb 
detonated at a restaurant in Islamabad killing 1 and injuring 4 
U.S. Embassy personnel.  In June 2008, a suicide car bomb 
detonated at the Danish Embassy.  In July 2008, an explosion at 
the Melody Market in Islamabad killed 20 and injured 40.  In 
August 2008, over 50 people were killed when two suicide bombers 
detonated themselves simultaneously at a Pakistan weapons 
ordnance factory in Wah, near Rawalpindi.  In August 2008, the 
U.S. Principal Officer in Peshawar was the target of an 
organized gun attack.  In September 2008, over 50 people were 
killed, including 3 U.S. Embassy employees and over 250 were 
injured when a truck carrying over two thousand pounds of 
explosives was detonated outside the Marriott Hotel in 
Islamabad.  In November 2008, an American working for a 
non-government organization was shot and killed in Peshawar. 
 
(U) Lahore and the Punjab region have been comparatively safe 
for American citizens.  No specific attacks against Americans 
have occurred in Lahore since 1979.  However, within this region 
there are sectarian extremist, militant and designated foreign 
terrorist groups.  Lahore and the Punjab remain at critical risk 
for terrorist attacks against American interests. 
 
(U)  There are significant threats to foreign interests in 
Pakistan, both from entities aligned with or sympathetic to the 
Taliban and Al-Qaida.  All major western nations, including the 
United States, have issued travel advisories recommending 
against non-essential travel to Pakistan.  Organized crime is 
only a factor as it relates to assisting terrorism with weapons 
and money and is not currently a direct criminal threat to 
Americans.  Pakistan experiences regional, international and 
transnational terrorism threats and incidents. 
 
(U) The issue of spontaneous demonstrations is an ongoing 
concern.  Demonstrations can involve hundreds to many thousands 
of people.  These demonstrations, while mostly peaceful, can 
turn violent with little or no warning.  Another concern is the 
presence of extremist militants within the otherwise peaceful 
crowd of demonstrators.  The police generally maintain reliable 
control of the crowds but on occasion, exuberance turns into 
violence resulting in batons and gas being used on the crowds 
when they become hostile and aggressive. 
 
(SBU) Quite often on Friday afternoons, after prayers, there are 
demonstrations in Lahore. While these are normally peaceful, the 
police are out in force to control the situation because the 
potential for violence always exists. 
 
¶3. Post-Specific Concerns: 
 
(U)  Pakistan is subject to earthquakes in the north and west 
regions of the country. A severe earthquake occurred on October 
8, 2005 and is responsible for an estimated death toll of 87,000 
persons.  While the earthquake in 2005 was felt throughout most 
of Pakistan, the northern frontier and Kashmir regions of 
Pakistan sustained the greatest damage and loss of life. 
Substantial aftershocks and landslides have occurred in these 
areas. In October 2008, an earthquake occurred in the 
Balochistan Province causing death and destruction to the 
inhabitants of the area.  Additionally, the Indus River is prone 
to flooding after heavy rains especially during the monsoon 
season of July and August. 
 
(SBU) Industrial safety does not meet U.S. standards and 
pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste in the water and 
air is widespread. Air pollution, exacerbated in the winter 
months is at levels which may cause severe irritation and 
discomfort to individuals suffering from asthma or other 
respiratory disorders. 
 
(SBU) Public transportation and driving in Pakistan can be 
extremely hazardous. Mission policy prohibits the use of public 
transportation and taxis by Mission personnel for a number of 
reasons. Vehicle maintenance, driver skills, and general lack of 
road safety awareness by operators are all of concern.  Although 
there have been no incidences of kidnapping of Americans or 
Westerners in Lahore, reporting from an array of sources has 
brought the threat onto the radar.  The Mission reminds its 
personnel that it is paramount they continue their vigilance 
with regards to their surroundings to ensure their personal 
security. 
 
¶4. Police Response: 
 
(SBU) The police services in Pakistan are below the professional 
standards in the U.S. Lack of training, resources and low 
salaries of police officers contribute to the problem.  Police 
response times in Lahore are usually within 15 minutes.  The 
local police emergency numbers in Lahore is 15.  If there is a 
language barrier, U.S. citizens can contact American Citizen 
Services at the U.S. Consulate Lahore via the main consulate 
switchboard at 92-42-603-4000. U.S. citizens may also use this 
number should they be arrested or have any interaction with the 
police which may require assistance. 
 
(SBU) The government of Pakistan has taken measures to curb the 
indigenous and transnational terrorist threat in Pakistan, to 
include banning Islamic fundamentalist literature and groups 
engaging in violent practices and rhetoric. Furthermore, the 
government of Pakistan has increased the security 
countermeasures and precautions taken for high-level Government 
officials, diplomats, and areas frequented by westerners. 
 
¶5. Medical Emergencies: 
 
(SBU) Emergency medical care in Pakistan is only available in 
major cities. Most Pakistani hospitals possess limited advanced 
life support equipment and are not up to US standards. Travelers 
should arrange for medical evacuation insurance personally or 
through their sponsoring agency prior to arriving in Pakistan. 
The following is the main hospital used by Consulate personnel: 
 
Doctor's Hospital 
152 - A-G-I Canal Bank, Jauhar Town 
Phone: +92-42-530-2701 or +92-42-530-2709 
Emergency Room: ext 3010 / 3090 
 
Medical Evacuations: 
 
(SBU) Air ambulance information is offered only as a guide and 
is not a recommendation of one service over another.  Travelers 
are encouraged to research the availability of other air 
ambulance services and to make an informed choice based on 
individual needs and requirements. 
 
AAA Air Ambulance Anywhere - United States 
phone: 727-934-3999 
fax:   727-937-0276 
toll free:  1-800-327-196 
 
AEA International Alarm Centers - Singapore 
phone: 65-6338-7800 
Fax:   65-6338-7611 
internet:  www.internationalsos.com 
 
¶6. Travel precautions: 
 
(SBU) Situational awareness and common sense are imperative for 
your personal safety. Avoid the appearance of carrying large 
sums of money, dress conservatively and do not draw attention to 
yourself. Avoid high-risk areas, crowds, and civil disturbances. 
When traveling, do not be time and place predictable.  Varying 
your routes and departure/arrival times is vital to your safety. 
 If you feel that you are being followed or threatened in any 
way, go immediately to a safe place such as a government 
building that has police/security forces.  Maintaining a low 
profile is important.  Avoid wearing clothing that identifies 
you as an American. 
 
(SBU) Whether you are driving or riding as a passenger, use 
extreme caution, expect the unexpected, and drive defensively. 
Road signs and traffic lights are often ignored.  Traffic lights 
at intersections are often out due to the power shortage. 
Proceed through these intersections with caution.  Wear seat 
belts in front and rear seats, ensure doors are locked, and 
insist that a safe speed is maintained. 
Fire-fighting resources are lacking and it is advised that if 
you stay in a high-rise hotel, try to keep to the lower floors. 
 
(SBU) Many Americans and Westerners employ private security 
guard services for their residences and offices. They are less 
trained than those in the U.S. The following deficiencies are 
typical of such security services in Pakistan: poor quality of 
personnel attributed to low wages, little training, and limited 
supervision.  What the contracting firm fails to supply in the 
way of equipment, the individual guard looks to the occupant to 
provide (i.e. heater, fan, water, and even supplemental income). 
 The major contract security guard services in Pakistan area: 
SMS, Phoenix Security Services, and Ashkari guards. 
 
¶7. (U) For further information: 
 
Embassy contact information: 
 
Embassy main switchboard: 011-92-51-208-0000 
 
Regional Security Office - Islamabad: 011-92-51-208-2203 
 
Regional Security Office - Lahore: 011-92-42-603-4000 
 
¶8.  OSAC Country Council 
 
(U) There is currently no formal OSAC in-country but the RSO 
briefs any and all U.S. and allied private sector personnel when 
requested.  The establishment of a council for Lahore is 
currently in the planning stages. 
 
 
HUNT