Reports indicate that Pakistan is set to gain USD 365 million
annually, under ‘an agreement’, for
the reopening of supply routes for
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
(NATO) troops in Afghanistan, The
Express tribune quoting a report
of The Christian Science Monitor
website revealed. The United States-led
(US)
coalition is expected to pay Pakistan a fee
of USD 1,500 to USD 1,800 for every
truck carrying supplies through the
country. Officials, speaking on the
condition of anonymity, said that
the bill is estimated to go up to
USD one million per day. It is estimated
that as many as 600 trucks will pass
through Pakistan every day between now and next year. The US, in return, has asked Pakistan to provide
security for the supplies which are
transported using private local companies,
faster customs clearance and checkpoints,
reveals the report. Pakistan has not
provided security to trucks carrying
NATO supplies in the past.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said in
categorical terms that reopening NATO
supplies was in the interest of Pakistan, reports The News.
"The restoration of NATO supplies
will be strictly in accordance with
the resolution adopted by the Parliament,"
she said. She said Pakistan would
receive one billion dollars in Coalition
Support Fund (CSF).
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander in
Afghanistan General John Allen said
that the ISAF mission was not affected
by the closure of NATO supplies, reports
Dawn.
Meanwhile, the White House strongly opposed recent congressional
moves to impose restrictions on reimbursement
of CSF for Pakistan as well as requirements
of certification. Reacting to a series
of proposals made by the House Armed
Services Committee in National Defence
Authorisation (NDAA) for the fiscal
year 2013, the White House budget
office objected to several of the
proposals. The White House Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) argued
that limiting reimbursement of funds
for Pakistan at such
a sensitive time would have negative
repercussions for counter-terrorism
efforts in the region. “The administration
strongly objects to the restriction
in reimbursement for Pakistan from
Coalition Support Funds and the associated
certification requirements in Section
1211,” the OMB said in a statement. |
