US-Pak sign new accord on NATO supply-line

Pakistan has inked an agreement with the United States on arrangements for NATO supplies, replacing the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in place since 2004.

Earlier, Islamabad agreed to resume land route for allied forces battling in Afghanistan after closing them for seven months in protest at a botched US airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani troops at the Salala check-posts.

The agreement is part of efforts by the war on terror allies to patch up their peevish ties which plunged into crisis last year over the air raid and the discovery of Osama bin Laden hiding in the garrison city of Abbottabad.

The parliament earlier this year issued guidelines, urging that no lethal supplies be transported through the country. The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) after hectic month of proceedings formed new terms of engagement for future course of relationship with the United States.

Islamabad under the new agreement will not allow transportation of arms and ammunition, as demanded by the parliament in its foreign policy recommendations approved in April. The military equipment for the Afghan National Army, however, would be allowed to pass through the Ground Line of Communication (GLoC).

Moreover, Pakistan will not provide any warehouses or storage facilities to NATO containers. Under the new MoU, only transport of non-lethal cargo which includes food and medicine will be allowed in trucks measuring 20 by 40 feet.

Two routes will be used by containers carrying NATO supplies. Containers on the southern route will travel to Afghanistan from Karachi (Bin Qasim Port) via Chaman. On the northern route, containers will travel from Karachi (Bin Qasim Port) via Torkham to Afghanistan.

Islamabad will also be allowed to stop the transit of goods which fall outside the parameters of the MoU.

There will be no tax or duty charged on the containers however commercial carriers will have to pay fees. New fees can also be introduced for the quick transfer of cargo.

Pakistan’s Defence Ministry will act as a Central Coordination Authority and review the daily operations and implementation of the supply route.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=30024

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jul 31 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.