First US diplomatic shipment crosses into Afghanistan

Following a six-month blockade of NATO supplies, first shipment of four containers of office supplies for American Embassy in Kabul crossed into Afghanistan from Pakistan via Torkham border.

A media report quoting senior official said that Pakistani government had never put bar on the transportation of supplies for the diplomatic missions. He clarified that ban the transportation of NATO supplies is still intact.

According to the media reports the four containers crosses into Afghanistan that was the first shipment after the blockade.

Islamabad blocked land route used for supplies to allied forces battling in Afghanistan in protest against NATO air strike on the Salala check post that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on November 26, 2011.

The US Embassy in Islamabad was quick to response clarifying that it was nothing to do with the NATO supply-line. The spokesperson claimed that Pakistan had permitted the shipment through and it was carrying office supplies for the Kabul mission.

The containers crossed into Afghanistan as President Asif Ali Zardari left the country to attend a NATO summit in Chicago. Islamabad accepted a last-minute invitation after Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar indicated that they were mulling to resume land route for allied forces.

An official observed, “I can’t give you the exact number but a lot more will go to Afghanistan in coming days. These all are diplomatic shipments – I mean non-NATO supplies”.

According to the reports, almost 300 containers of US embassy supplies, including stationery, computers and printers, are understood to have been stranded in Pakistan for the last six months.

An official confirming the information said they had received a list of 300 containers which would cross into Afghanistan in the coming weeks.

He noted, “I can confirm that three trucks have gone to Afghanistan and there are also reports about the crossing of the fourth one on Friday. The rest of the containers are also likely to pass in the coming days”.

Islamabad said it had directed officials to finalize an agreement as quickly as possible on lifting ban on NATO supplies. However, the two countries are still negotiating rules, fees and logistics for resuming the supplies.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on May 19 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.