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C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000035 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/24/2019 
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: MILITANT BOMBING OF BRIDGE IN KHYBER FAILS 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate 
Peshawar, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (d) 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.      (C) Militants placed three bombs at a bridge on the 
Peshawar-Torkham Highway on February 20, one of which exploded 
at approximately 6:30 am local time, causing no death or 
significant damage.  Traffic flow resumed by 8:30 am.  Militants 
also fired a rocket at a fuel tanker 11 km from the Torkham 
border on February 21, killing the driver, but not disturbing 
the load.  The attacks represent a continuation of militant 
attempts to disrupt U.S./NATO supply routes through Pakistan to 
Afghanistan.  Thus far, the government has responded quickly to 
keep traffic moving on this key transportation corridor.  End 
summary. 
 
Militants Target Bridge on Khyber Supply Route 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2.      (C) On February 20, militants targeted a single-lane RCC 
(Reinforced Cement Concrete) bridge on the critical 
Peshawar-Torkham Highway, in the village of Natara.  The 40 
meter long Natara Bridge lies near the Khassadar checkpost of 
Zintarra, about 15 km from the Afghanistan border crossing at 
Torkham and 23 km from Jamrud.  According to the commander of 
the Khassadar force in Landi Kotal, at approximately 2:00 am on 
February 20, a group of 15-20 militants overcame two Khassadars 
posted at Natara Bridge and planted three bombs on the abutments 
to the bridge.  At about 6:30 am on the morning of February 20, 
one of the three bombs exploded. 
 
No Death or Damage; Traffic Flow Resumed 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.      (C) No death or injuries were reported as a result of the 
Natara Bridge explosion.  Engineers and a bomb disposal unit 
destroyed the two unexploded devices, with one man injured 
during the disposal "due to negligence," according to the 
Khassadar commander.  Post contacts described damage to the 
bridge as "minor" and "superficial," observing that traffic flow 
resumed in both directions by 8:30 am.  They added vehicle 
traffic was heavier and slower than normal as a result of the 
blast, but still moving. 
 
February 21 Attack on Fuel Tanker 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶4.      (C) Militants also fired a rocket at a fuel tanker 11 km 
from the Torkham border on February 21.  The rocket hit the 
front-cab of the truck, killing the driver, but the fuel load 
was not disturbed. 
 
Vulnerable Spots on the Khyber Supply Route 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.      (C) There are 12 causeways (paved roads elevated on a 
sandbank) and 10 bridges on the Peshawar-Torkham Highway between 
Jamrud and Landi Kotal.  Because the route from Jamrud to Landi 
Kotal cuts through mountainous terrain, the road crosses many 
gorges, culverts, water channels and streams.  During very heavy 
rains, several times per year, traffic will be temporarily 
blocked due to flooding.  The mission's Narcotics Affairs 
Section (NAS) plans to convert the four single-lane bridges, 
including the Natara Bridge, to double-lane crossings in order 
to reduce traffic jams.  The remaining six bridges on the Khyber 
route already contain two lanes. 
 
Spotty Security on the Khyber Supply Route 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶6.      (C) The Khyber Political Agent told post that he normally 
stations a few Khassadars at each bridge on the Peshawar-Torkham 
Highway for security.  About 30 Khassadars are stationed at the 
nearest Khassadar post at Zintarra.  But militants can easily 
overwhelm the small number of lightly-armed Khassadars posted at 
bridges, as occurred the evening of February 20.  Low wages and 
poor morale continue to plague the Khassadar forces which 
usually stand guard in the open, leaving them particularly 
vulnerable to attack.  On February 6, a suicide bomber killed 
two bridge guards in Jamrud Tehsil when they tried to stop his 
vehicle. 
 
Militant Attacks on Khyber Supply Route Continue 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶7.      (C) On February 7, Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) announced that 
it would continue to stage attacks that disrupt U.S./NATO 
supplies to Afghanistan.  The 10 bridges on the Peshawar-Torkham 
Highway, as well as the cargo terminals in Peshawar, will serve 
as inviting targets for militants.  The February 21 militant 
rocket attack on the fuel tanker on the Peshawar-Torkham Highway 
represents another type of inviting target to militants. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8.      (C) The bombing of the Natara Bridge on February 20 and 
the Ali Masjid Bridge on February 3 represent a continuation of 
militant attempts to disrupt U.S./NATO supply routes through 
Pakistan to Afghanistan.  With a more robust Frontier Corps 
presence in Khyber aimed at preventing spectacular attacks such 
as the one in November that netted militants a Humvee and other 
supplies, militants appear to have shifted tactics to remote 
devices and dark hour attacks on infrastructure.  Thus far, the 
government has responded quickly to keep traffic moving on this 
key transportation corridor. 
 
 
TRACY