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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAHORE 000230 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  12/10/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PTER PK
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON OCTOBER 15 ATTACKS ON LAHORE SECURITY 
INSTALLATIONS 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Carmela Conroy, Consul General, U.S. Consulate 
General Lahore, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
¶1.  (C)  Summary.  On October 15, 2009, extremists killed 
eighteen police personnel and injured over 100 in three 
simultaneous attacks on security installations in Lahore.  The 
extremists had learned from previous attacks, enhancing their 
weapons and disguising themselves as police.  Attackers appeared 
to be young men seeking "martyrdom."   Quick reaction by the 
police minimized causalities and secured the facilities within 
five hours.  Punjab police, however, still lack the resources to 
fight the growing terrorist threat in Pakistan's most populous 
province.  The increasing number of extremist attacks targeting 
security installations and enhanced security measures within the 
province are depleting already limited resources.  The federal 
government has not responded to a provincial request for more 
equipment and training, leaving police unable to perform routine 
tasks, or up their game to counter extremists.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
OCTOBER 15 ATTACKS LEAVE 27 DEAD 
 
 
 
¶2.  (U)  Starting around 09:30L, gunmen attacked the Federal 
Investigation Agency (FIA) Regional Headquarters, the Elite 
Police Force Training school, and the Manawan Police Training 
Center (reftel A).  At all three sites, police successfully 
fought back and killed or captured the attackers.  At FIA, seven 
FIA personnel and two attackers died; at the Elite training 
facility, five attackers died; at the Manawan training center, 
nine police and four attackers died.  Police secured all three 
facilities by 14:30L. 
 
 
 
RSO AND LEGATT TEAM VISIT ATTACK SITES 
 
 
 
¶3.  (C) A LEGATT Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Team visited 
the three attack sites on October 16.  The EOD team learned that 
attackers at the three sites were armed with AK-47 rifles fitted 
with grenade launchers.  All were outfitted with ammunition 
vests and suicide jackets.  Police discovered dried fruit and 
nuts in their vests, indicating they anticipated long sieges 
within the facilities.  The explosive used in the suicide 
jackets of these attacks, potassium chlorate mixed with diesel 
fuel, was the same explosive found in four improvised explosive 
devices (IEDs) recovered January 26 outside Lahore's Senior 
Superintendent Police Operations building. 
 
 
 
¶4.  (C) The LEGATT team examined the remains and took DNA 
samples, but was unable to identify any of the attackers.  Most 
of the attackers appear to be in their mid-20s, and all were 
male.  One attacker, based on a physical examination, appeared 
to be about 15-years-old, according to Lahore Police officials. 
Two attackers appeared to be Uzbeks. The rest appear to be 
Pakistani, possibly Punjabi, judging by physical 
characteristics.  Two of the extremists were wearing shalwar 
kameez, a traditional Pakistani outfit of a long, loose shirt 
and pants.  The others were in muhafiz police uniforms 
consisting of a black t-shirt with "muhafiz" ("protector") in 
white lettering on the back, and black trousers.  All attackers 
wore black and red headbands that said "Shariat ya Shahdat," 
which means "Islamic law or martyrdom."  Note: Muhafiz is the 
patrol wing of the Lahore police. Police uniforms can be easily 
purchased in markets throughout Pakistan. 
 
 
 
ENHANCED TACTICS, POLICE PREPAREDNESS 
 
 
 
¶5.  (C) The extremists employed the same weaponry in the attacks 
on October 15 as the March attack on Manawan Police Training 
Center (reftel B).  Attackers were armed with suicide vests, 
AK-47s and grenades both times.  In the October attacks, 
extremists disguised themselves as police officers, which 
 
LAHORE 00000230  002 OF 003 
 
 
provided them with easier access to facilities, and enhanced 
their AK-47 rifles with grenade launchers.  Five attackers chose 
to detonate their vests in the October 15 attacks.  None of the 
March attackers detonated their suicide devices.  The March 
attack lasted eight-hours as extremists barricaded themselves in 
a single police training facility.  In October the attackers 
divided their forces among three facilities and the Police were 
able to secure all three facilities within four hours. 
 
 
 
PUNJAB POLICE REQUESTS GO UNANSWERED 
 
 
 
¶6.  (C)  The terrorist attacks in Lahore in 2009 to date, 
beginning with the March attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team 
through the three attacks on security installations in October, 
have strained the resources of the Punjab police.  Following the 
March attack on the Manawan Police Training Center, Punjab 
Inspector General of Police Tariq Saleem Dogar requested USD 67 
million in operational equipment, ammunition and rifles from the 
federal government.  The requested equipment, intended to 
supplement existing supplies and provide additional training, 
included bullet proof vests, grenades, a vehicle scanner and 
hand guns.  The federal government has not responded to this 
request to date.  Punjab police lack proper equipment, such as 
ammunition and rifles, for operations, leaving little resources 
for training.  Note: Post believes the federal government, like 
the provincial government, is facing a budget deficit and does 
not have funds available to support this request. 
 
 
 
RSO PUSHES FOR MORE TRAINING 
 
 
 
¶7.  (U) Working closely with Diplomatic Security Anti-Terrorism 
Assistance (ATA) Program, Department of Justice International 
Criminal Investigative Training and Assistance (ICITAP) Program, 
and IGP, RSO Lahore initiated training programs for the Punjab 
Elite Force, and, in consultation with the IGP and Punjab Home 
Secretary Nadeem Hassan Asif, proposed a dedicated course for 
Punjab's recently developed Counter Terrorism Force.  RSO Lahore 
is working to establish a designated training group from ATA, 
ICITAP, and Embassy Islamabad's Narcotic Affairs Section (NAS) 
for the Punjab Province.   Representatives from these 
organizations have discussed their willingness to provide "train 
the trainer" courses to mid-level officers to create a 
sustainable training platform for new police hires.  These USG 
officials have also discussed how to provide essential equipment 
that Punjab Police currently lack.  USG training for police in 
Pakistan has traditionally focused on officers from the 
Northwest Frontier Province with representatives from Punjab 
comprising between five to ten percent of the participants.  RSO 
Lahore is working with ATA, ICITAP, NAS and the Punjab police to 
vet better candidates for the available training programs to 
increase the opportunities available to Punjab officers. 
 
 
 
COMMENT: CHANGE OF TACTICS, POLICE NEED ASSISTANCE 
 
 
 
¶8.  (C)  Comment.  Targeting three installations at 
approximately the same time, with enhanced weaponry, successful 
adoption of police uniforms and using suicide vests illustrate a 
change in tactics in Lahore.  Disguised as police, extremists 
initially gained access to the security facilities but met 
fierce resistance after the attacks started.  Police prevented 
attackers from taking control of their facilities and secured 
their facilities in half the time.  Although the attackers 
changed their techniques, police were prepared to maintain 
control of their installations and minimize damage.  However, if 
the Punjab Police do not receive external support   for 
additional equipment, they will have to tap existing budgets, 
leaving little room for much needed counterterrorism training, 
and making them more vulnerable to future attacks.   Improved 
 
LAHORE 00000230  003 OF 003 
 
 
equipment for operations and an established training program 
will provide police the tools necessary to combat terrorism. 
Post will continue to seek ways to support the security forces 
that support the USG presence in the Punjab.  End Comment. 
CONROY