Pakistan closes down major NATO supply route: NATO 'unaffected'

Ray

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I wonder if it is a bold move.

After taking freebies like beggars and selling their souls and then doing what they are doing, it appears treachery, or mildly said - namakharami!

But then that is nothing new for Pakistan!

Pakistan is following the path of 'eating their cake and having it too!'
 
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jayz india

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as george bush said "either u r with us or against us" to pakistan,this although is for public consumption to show that the government has done something against the NATO and to divert the public anger towards someone else.if this is reality then pakistan has probably made there last mistake US will make there way thru pakistan
 

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Stuck in Afghanistan, powerful Pentagon leans before Pak Army



The powerful Pentagon has been crawling before the Pakistan Army in its effort to reopen a crucial supply route, considered to be the lifeline of its thousands of troops in Afghanistan, which Islamabad had blocked last week following deaths of its three soldiers.

The top Pentagon leadership have either tendered an apology or regretted over the incident following which Pakistan closed the Torkham gate.

In fact it is one of the rare instances of such apology and regret coming from a series of top US officials.

This is because a large part of US supply for its thousands of troops in land locked Afghanistan is routed through Pakistan.

The Pentagon says 50 per cent of its supply to Afghanistan goes through Pakistan and the rest through the alternative routes in the North that it has developed over the past few years.
 

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NATO tankers attacked again in Pak; one killed


Suspected Taliban militants on Wednesday attacked and set afire 20 oil tankers carrying supplies for NATO forces in southwest Pakistan, killing one man in the third major assault on supply vehicles in two weeks.

The NATO tankers, on their way to Afghanistan, were attacked on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, early this morning, Deputy Inspector General Police Hamid Shakil said.

A group of gunmen opened fire at nearly 40 tankers parked at Akhtarabad along the main highway between Quetta and the border town of Chaman, a witness said.

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for the past week's attacks on NATO convoys and threatened more such assaults to avenge the U.S. strikes against them.


Local residents gather next to burning oil tankers after militants attacked a terminal in Quetta, Pakistan, on Wednesday.


In today's attack, almost 20 tankers were destroyed but the rest were saved by police, Mr. Shakil said.

He told reporters that a driver was killed and another injured. He said the attackers came in vehicles and fled after the assault.

Fire fighters were called in to extinguish the blaze that erupted during the attack and police said they faced difficulties in their operation.

The contractors of NATO supply vehicles are responsible for their security when the trucks and tankers are parked.

On Monday, militants attacked NATO tankers near the federal capital Islamabad, burning 28 vehicles and killing at least three people.

On Friday, some 20 militants attacked a NATO convoy with rockets in Shikarpur, a city in southern Sindh province, burning nearly 30 tankers.

Also on Friday, rockets were fired at two NATO supply trucks in the south-western city of Khuzdar.

Two people were killed in the attack.

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attacks and threatened more assaults on NATO convoys.

Militants have stepped up attacks on tankers and trucks in Pakistan after NATO helicopters carried out four air strikes in the tribal belt.

Three soldiers died in an air strike on September 27.

Pakistan blocked the main supply route for NATO trucks and tankers after the attacks and the ban entered its sixth day on Tuesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said the route was blocked due to anger in Pakistan over the air raids and that the supplies would be restored after the security situation is improved.

Some 70 per cent of supplies for NATO and U.S. troops and 40 per cent of their fuel requirements are shipped to Afghanistan via Pakistan.




The Hindu : News / International : NATO tankers attacked again in Pak; one killed
 

Tshering22

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I wonder why NATO is so apprehensive to accept Russia's offer of a Central Asian route. About 3 months back there was a report on Jane's stating that Russia had offered a route via Tajikistan on the condition that the NATO clears its weapons and supplies deliveries with Russian military authorities in Tajikistan like a customs charge. There's no reason for them to still live in cold war era and think that Russia might attack their routes. After all NATO's been paying Pakistan for the transit charges. In this case, it has to split the payment between Tajik and Russian government, that's all.

Russia might charge a bit more than Pakistan but at least it will be safe rather than billions wasted in tankers, trucks and trailers being blown up or burned down. I think NATO should re-direct all its routes through Central Asia just to give a pay-back to Pakistani authorities. Would be amusing to see what Gilani has to say in response to such a move by NATO--- it means no aid, no free weapons, no economic support, no infrastructural help and a sanctions on their new weapons that they got free from USA.
 
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NATO is apprehensive because Russia is offering the supply route with the condition of no missile shield in Europe. USA does not want to accept these terms.
 

Energon

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This isn't really that big a deal. This is all a big show for the Pak establishment to save face. The US/NATO itself has to make sure the Pak establishment can save face or else there would be turmoil. So a few American diplomats will issue some public apologies and the routes will reopen. It's not like Pakistan can hold out indefinitely, they depend upon us for their basic subsistence. The routes will open up, the drone bombings will continue and if militants take cover on the Pakistani side of the border and fire upon NATO forces they will be bombed again. In short, nothing is going to change.

If the Pakistani army has in fact invited the vandalism as suspected by many, then the amount of damages incurred in lost materiel should be deducted from the next aid package.
 

Tshering22

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^^ Guess you're right. US has to pretend that it has been stopped by Pakistani politicians or their puppet government would be subjected to Iran-style internal revolution and riots from mullas which is the last thing NATO would want at this stage especially after losing crucial strategic base in Iran during the 80s. From the moment this article was splashed, I was in silent chuckles wondering how long can Pakistani political elite hold out on their own in appeasing the local crowd. In fact I am wondering what form of government do they have at this time considering that civilian elite have no power, Army has become frustrated of being repeatedly told to stand down from a coup and engaging the TTP and every single mulla on the street claiming to be "leader of the people" via the religion card. It is a really confusing state of government.

Invited vandalism is the easiest guess we can make here since the Pakistani Army could simply point at terrorist organizations that mushroom almost everyday in their country responsible for the damage.

However, talking of the aid money, I don't see any cuts since the last time. This is not the first time a NATO convoy has been burned down when 2 times already a convoy of HUMVEEs and Strykers have been destroyed by fire from alleged terrorist groups. Still Hillary walked in Islamabad with a $ 7.5 billion aid package a few weeks back.
 

Yusuf

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The US internally has more or less declared pakistan as rogue. They have activated 5 supply routes from north. Its time to dump the drones and the B2s and 52s directly over that badland and start bombing. I see it coming. Woe to that idiot who spilled the beans on terror attack on europe, that would have done the trick.
 

ajtr

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US may opt for Russian route for Nato supplies


As the Pakistani authorities have decided to claim approximately $600 million from the US-led Nato/Isaf forces stationed in Afghanistan as compensation charges for using the country's extensive road network to transport food and military supplies to the war-torn Afghanistan, the Centcom has moved swiftly to open an alternate supply route to Afghanistan via Russia and Central Asia, bypassing the ambush-prone main supply routes through Pakistan.

The decision is set to hurt Pakistan in financial terms as Islamabad currently receives a huge reimbursement of economic and military services and logistic support provided to the United States. The high command of the US-led allied forces stationed in Afghanistan had earlier warned Pakistan that its failure to prevent rising terrorist attacks targeting the Nato/Isaf supply trucks travelling to Afghanistan via Pakistan could force them abandoning Pakistan as a key supply route for transportation of food and military supplies.

Well informed diplomatic sources in Islamabad say the Centcom's decision to choose an alternate supply route to Afghanistan was prompted by Pakistan's refusal to give a timeline for the resumption of the Nato supplies, which remain suspended at the country's Torkham border with Afghanistan for a full week now.


However, the suspension of the Nato/Isaf supplies was not the only action taken by the Pakistani authorities. According to diplomatic sources, the decision makers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad further decided to claim $600 million from Nato/Isaf forces as compensation charges for causing damage to Pakistan's extensive road network while transporting food and military supplies to Afghanistan since 2002
 

SHASH2K2

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US may opt for Russian route for Nato supplies






Well informed diplomatic sources in Islamabad say the Centcom's decision to choose an alternate supply route to Afghanistan was prompted by Pakistan's refusal to give a timeline for the resumption of the Nato supplies, which remain suspended at the country's Torkham border with Afghanistan for a full week now.


People heard about "apne paun pe kulhari marna " What Pakistan is doing is" Apne pet pe kulhari marna ". They are the only one bound to loose millions in revenue as transit fee. Pakistan is a typical Example of beggar with attitude .
 

Tshering22

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NATO is apprehensive because Russia is offering the supply route with the condition of no missile shield in Europe. USA does not want to accept these terms.
Well that is extremely Cold-War ish thinking and not to mention downright silly. What's the priority situation that is bugging the US economy and their military? Afghanistan! Rather than focusing on how to make the Afghanistan situation smoother and easier for their soldiers, the Pentagon is worrying about some mythical war against Russia that they are no longer going to fight after 1991. Rather than expanding NATO and bugging Russia and later spending billions on missile shield and stuff, US could simply do justice by halting its NATO expansion into Russian territory, consider Russia's offer seriously and save the lives of thousands of soldiers that are being slaughtered or attacked by bandits and terrorists on invitation from rogue elements in Pak Army to attack NATO convoys.

The need of the hour is to focus on how to control jihadi terrorism that is emanating from Af-Pak and therefore tackle this demon once and for all rather than expanding NATO with tiny east European countries that will only add to the billing expenses of NATO and annoy Russia even more for no reason. Wonder why Pentagon wants to install a shield against Russia now that they're more or less on the same page when it comes to the common new enemy of jihadi terrorism.
 

Tshering22

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People heard about "apne paun pe kulhari marna " What Pakistan is doing is" Apne pet pe kulhari marna ". They are the only one bound to loose millions in revenue as transit fee. Pakistan is a typical Example of beggar with attitude .
Truly said. What adds to this is that CENTCOM might seriously consider Russian offer since Pakistan has hiked its fee beyond its initial claim and therefore is a costly affair. The latest $600 million claim that Pakistan has made will straight go into funding more and more terrorists on our side and the US knows this thanks to the blunder of some officials in Pakistan who admitted the presence of rogue elements. I wonder what nerve Rehman Malik has to make statements like " we will have to see whether US is our ally or enemy"! I was impressed at his guts that despite being the biggest US-AID recipient he still has the nerve to talk like that.

Guess that Tajikistan route is going to get finalized in a couple of months and then it is bye bye for Pakistan's aid money project.
 

Rahul92

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Nato 'unaffected by pakistan row'

Pakistan has said that US drone strikes in the north-west have "neither justification nor understanding".

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said that such attacks were counter-productive and a violation of his country's sovereignty.

More than 150 people, militants and civilians, have died in drone strikes over the last month.

Correspondents say that the attacks have fuelled anti-American sentiment at a time when tensions are already high.


Scores of people have been killed in drone attacks in north-west Pakistan this year

Pakistan shut the key Torkham border-crossing last week because of a Nato air-strike which killed at least two soldiers.

The US has now apologised for the attack, while insisting that its war effort in Afghanistan has not been impeded by the move.

An estimated 6,500 oil tankers and other supply vehicles are still waiting for the crossing to reopen. In the latest attacks blamed on militants, at least 40 tankers carrying fuel for Nato were destroyed on Wednesday.
'Hearts and minds'

"We believe that [drone strikes] are counter-productive and also a violation of our sovereignty," foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.

"We hope that the US will revisit its policy."

Mr Basit said that the drone war was "not serving the larger strategic interests, especially in the context of our efforts to win hearts and minds, which is part and parcel of our strategy against militants and terrorists".

Local officials say that at least five suspected militants were killed in the latest drone strike on Wednesday in north-west Pakistan.

Pakistan has on several occasions called for an end to drone strikes.

However correspondents say that there is a tacit acceptance in Islamabad that such attacks are a useful way of killing militants in the north-west of the country where the army is unable or unwilling to go.

While Nato says it expects the border dispute with Pakistan to be resolved soon, relations with Islamabad have been further strained by a White House report that has questioned Pakistan's willingness to curb militants.

Tanker attacks

Brigadier-General Josef Blotz, a spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), told the Reuters news agency that operations were "not impeded" by the border closure because only a third of its fuel supplies came via Pakistan.

But the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Karachi says this figure is incorrect, and that in fact 80% of Nato's fuel supplies for Afghanistan go through Pakistan.



Our correspondent says that the last week in particular has been a bad week for Nato and that the Taliban tanker attacks are now seriously endangering the coalition's operations.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said the security situation was being reviewed and a decision to reopen the Torkham crossing would be made in due course.

The Chaman crossing in Balochistan remains open, but this is not as convenient for supplies bound for Kabul.

The American apology to the dead and injured in the air strike came in a statement from US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson who paid tribute to Pakistan's "brave security forces".

She pledged the United States would "coordinate with the government of Pakistan to prevent such tragic accidents from taking place in the future".

Nato's Gen David Petraeus also apologised and vowed to work to stop similar incidents happening in the future.

However, a White House report to the US Congress questioned Pakistan's willingness to tackle militants operating in the tribal areas of North Waziristan, close to the Afghan border.

The report said Pakistan's military stayed close to the main roads, avoiding "military engagements that would put it in direct conflict with Afghan Taliban or al-Qaeda forces in North Waziristan".

This was "as much a political choice" as a question of military ability, the report said.

So far there has been no official reaction in Pakistan to the report.



BBC News - Pakistan criticises 'unjustified' US drone strikes
 
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bhramos

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NATO Under Attack: Over 50 tankers burn in new twin strikes in Pakistan

Gunmen have set fire to at least 55 fuel tankers and killed a driver in two separate attacks on NATO convoys taking supplies to coalition forces in Afghanistan. The strikes in southwestern Pakistan are the latest in the string of attacks since the country closed a key border crossing point almost a week ago after a NATO helicopter attack in the border area, which killed three Pakistani troops. The closure of Torkham crossing has left hundreds of trucks stranded alongside the country's highways.
 
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Oracle

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Torching Nato trucks is the only leverage for a rouge state like Pakistan to hide it's real intentions of begging more and more. This is nothing new and even the US knows it.
 

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