US begins military equipment withdrawal from Afghanistan

The United States has started withdrawal of military equipment from Afghanistan as at least 25 containers crossed the Torkham border point and heading to the Karachi for shipment, a cargo company said on Sunday.

Pakistani custom officials said that the first convoy containers, carrying U.S. military equipment from a key NATO base in Afghanistan, was cleared and was allowed to proceed to Karachi.

An official for a private company, responsible for shipment of the U.S. cargo from Afghanistan, has also confirmed the U.S. equipment withdrawal.

Fawad Khan, Spokesman for the “Bilal Associates’ told the media that his company cleared the U.S. defence equipment at the Torkham border point on the Pakistani side of the border in strict security.

“The convoy left for Karachi after custom clearance,” he said.

Khan said the second fleet of containers of military equipment will also reach Torkham in from Bagram airbase very soon.

The U.S. plans to withdraw several thousands troops from the war-torn Afghanistan this year and the NATO has set 2014 for a complete withdrawal

Washington is engaged in talks with Kabul for a security pact that is likely to allow presence of some troops in Afghanistan after the NATO withdrawal.

The United States, which has currently more than 60,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of nearly 150,000 NATO force, plans to withdraw all its combat troops by 2014.

Top U.S. military officials had earlier stated they would need Pakistan’s role in exit strategy and the country’s land routes will be crucial for troops and equipment withdrawal.

Last year, Pakistan allowed the US military cargo and non-containerised equipment to enter its territory at Torkham and Chaman border in Balochistan province.

Pakistan, however, linked transit of the U.S. military cargo at the time of withdrawal from Afghanistan with certification that Washington would not transit any hazardous waste material and uranium ammunition through its land.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Feb 10 2013. Filed under Latest News, 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.