PESHAWAR: Pakistani authorities on Saturday blocked the NATO supply route to Afghanistan after an attack on a border check post killed at least 24 Pakistani soldiers. The attack by NATO helicopters on a check post located in Mohmand Agnecy killed at least 24 soldiers and injured 12.
Official sources confirmed the suspension of supplies, adding that all containers were stopped at the Takhta Baig check post in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency.
“We have suspended the supply and will not let even a single container move ahead,” the official added.
"We have stopped NATO supplies after receiving orders from the federal government," Mutahir Hussain, a senior administration official in Khyber tribal region, on the Afghan border, told AFP. "Supply trucks are being sent back to Peshawar."
Takhta Baig is the first check post followed by four more check posts in the tribal areas and is the shortest possible route to Afghanistan.
Gilani condemns attack
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the attack on the check post in Mohmand Agency.
Speaking to the media in Multan, Gilani said that a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and the foreign secretary was currently underway in Islamabad, and added that he would be joining them soon. The prime minister has cut short his three-day visit to Multan to return to the capital.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the matter was being taken up in the “strongest terms” with NATO and the US on the directions of the prime minister.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has also said that no action against Pakistan’s would be tolerated.
She said that the attack will be condemned on all forums and the government will also take up the issue internationally.
Pakistan lodges protest with the US
Iffat Gardezi, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Pakistani Embassy in the US, has lodged a verbal protest over the attack.
A Pakistan Embassy spokesperson told The Express Tribune that Iffat Gardezi had contacted the State Department at midnight (Eastern Standard Time).
The spokesperson said that Gardezi had in strong words raised the issue of the death of Pakistani soldiers by ISAF and termed the incident as "unprovoked".
(with additional reporting by Huma Imtiaz)
COMMENTS (95)
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great weldone
We have been blaming the CIA RAW MOSSAD etc etc etc. Has anyone given a thought to the EVANGELICAL ANGLE. This to me is the biggest sin going around the world and the fastest spreading disease. It is time to wake up and look at this angle carefully and understand what the west is doing here.
The Correct name of political agenct khyber agency is Mr. Mutahir Zeb not Mutahir Hussain.
Was it just coincidence that this happened on the 26/11 anniversary????
@Jay: No human being's blood is cheap whichever part of the world that be in.Let's have a moment of silence for the fallen soldiers and their families, then you can go back to your tirades. I am very confident that most of our Indian brethren can provide a much more considerate response than yours.
i wish nato supplies to be blocked permanently-. hope govt stands by its decision.
Supplies are stopped temporarily to create interest among people, but will resume shortly. This is simple vote bank politics. Do not get attach your sentiments to it.
Incidents like this sparks wars, NATO needs to address the issue as soon as possible and make it a top priority.
@Munna: Don't worry. Your wish for "No Fly Zone" is coming soon, the same way it came in Iraq and Libya.
Twenty-six soldiers slaughtered and all our government could do was record a protest and block NATO supplies. Innocent civilians get killed every day in drone attacks and not a feather moves in Islamabad. Our enemies think that our blood is cheap and we keep proving them right.
Lets call an all party committee..................
in my world of thoughts, this attack was meant to put pressure and engage the Pak-Army from the memo gate scandal which is a serious concern and left the civilian on it knees.
please must stop the NATO supply permanently...!!!!NEVER AND EVER LET THEM IN..!!
No need for ms Sherry to fly to Washington...at least save the fuel.
Pakistan blocked NATO supply bur for few days only eventually they will open again do not worry America.
Ha ha ha
We need a more permanant solution to this problem. I heard that America is working on alternative supply routes. What if they are successful? How long can we continue with this supply blockage topi drama?
Serves a country right which keeps 'snakes in its backyard' as said by Ms. Hillary Clinton and which refuses to take action against the perpetrators of 26/11 2008 terrorist attack against India inspite of being provided legally valid evidence. No sympathy from this Indian at all to the latest killing of Pakistani soldiers by NATO.
i wonder why pakistanis always talk and just talk why u cant do anything. there are many suggestions here but why r u afraid to implement them. why ?
NATO you made life miserable of our people. You swallow lives, roads and what not. Anyone in official authority awakening beyond the cut off supply for two days?
Pathetic Response by Pakistan. Hope NATO learns its lessons.
This time, will we stop these supplies forever, please! Otherwise this will become a joke.
Pakistan should provide proper air defense cover to the border posts. Stop NATO supplies through a national assembly resolution. Boycott the coming Bonn conference. Stop intelligence sharing with US / NATO. Down grade cooperation with US on Afghan peace process.
@Shahid Malik: ‘Businessmen should pay full taxes so that we do not need to beg from others. If not, then businessmen of our country are to blame for our humiliation’. Have you forgotten that the establishment has the biggest businesses in Pak. Dare to ask them to pay taxes?
@maestro: Yes USA might be down today and the owe China money. Why are you worried whether China invests in USA Treasury Bonds. What has Pak got to do with China’s money. Are you stating that Pak is part of China? Is Pak any better in its economy?
@Someone: The establishment has confirmed controlling Haqqani and they hsve killed Americans. So directly Pak has declared war on ISAF.
It is time to show who is the boss to the NATO. Time to stop NATO supplies for 90 days, No Diplomatic relations with NATO countries for 90 days. All the ghairatmand Pakistani should protest this killing of the brave jawans by NOT visiting the NATO country for 90 days, this means no vacation, business and student visits to the NATO countries. Why should we spent our $$$ in the NATO countries?. The PTI and all its supports should be in forefront of these "NO VISIT" to the NATO country protests, IK should not visit his sons in LONDON or US for raising funds from pakistani-doctors for the next 90 days. Instead, for next 90 days, let our students, tourists, businessmen and politicians visit only the "all weather friend" china for the next 90 days. This will strengthen our bonding with the great chinese people.
@Hu Jintao: How about a retaliatory strike?? Well- We have sent the "lion" and his friends to the wizard of OZ and we await the COURAGE transfusion. Can you suggest some ways beyond beyond Blocking supplies.?
What dum peoples are we first we fought for queen in ww2 for our independence and got killed thousands and now ...... we worth nothing ......
Wow, what a 'BIG BOSS' show,
"an insane and immoral brutality"....cool heads should prevail in this sensitive situation..BUT response should be SWIFT AND SOLID......to this ACT OF AGGRESSION...
There is no value of our soldiers in eyes of NATO and our Govt.
we have lost all honour.
please cut it permanently.
pls cut it permanently
the last time around...3 of our troops died...NATO was on the ropes for 11 days without the supply trucks...so going by mathematical calculations, this time around 88 days is a minimum (although I think they should cut it off completely)...but I dont think our govt has the guts to do that...an insincere apology and they will move on...
This not for the firt time, nato and america attacked few time on pakistani area but not strong reaction seemed,tis is also for the time being that pak stoped nato tankers....
CIA+MOSSAD+RAW Conspiracy!
I hope we suspend NATO supplies for once and for all. 26 soldiers is a huge number, this is more than a killing, this is a massacre. The US should pay for this in equal amount of sacrifice. The federal government should block every supply route to the Afghanistan and let the NATO soldiers suffer hunger and supply shortage. Go to hell peace of war.
How about a retaliatory strike
@ashok sai:
well said.
Pakistan must declare "No Fly Zone" for NATO planes and US drones.
Need to findout, who all are earning (directly / indirectly) from supplies to NATO/Afghanistan: interesting details would comeout...............!!!!!!!!!!
There should be the permanent solution to this . if i can remember right some times ago there was a similar sort of attack on the checkpost . some solders were martyred . Pakistan stopped the supply for some days . there was official apology from US and everything was back to normal . Only tit for tat answer will make them think before doing this exercise again.
@big bass butler: "Haqqani network, Haqqani network!"
It is high time that strong retaliatory response is given to the invading armies. We cannot let such situations continue. It is a plain aggresssion, not a mistake.
Just bomb a couple of NATO bases in Afghanistan, issue an apology and get it done and over with. As someone said, 'works both ways.'
Stop that permanently..
This is shame for us, i cant say any thing else
How about we launch few missiles at their bases and call it " oops sorry didnt knew it "
@Gen Pasha (retd): People do feel equally strong when our army is attacked by the terrorists (no one calls it a jihad except the terrorists), people might not be vocal about this because they (terrorists) are our enemies and attacks are expected from enemies when a country is at war. People are vocal about that attacks on our army by our "allies" because your allies are not supposed to attack you. Being a general i think you should know the difference between an ally and an enemy.
@Musa: what wil happen if they cutoff their supplies to pakistan? pakistan is helpless.
@ ashok sai, Stoping NATO supplies is a drama. You see...... after 8days pakistan will accept Blood money/ diyyat in return of soldiers killed and resume NATO supplies. Have you forgotten justice given to Raymond davis?
Dont worry our liberal fundos will open it after 3 days
and when will you start again ?
USA!,USA!
It's intolerable. Block them permanently via Pakistan routes. Let be out of this alliance now.
I wish some of you people would feel as strong and be as vocal when terrorists kill Pakistani army jawaans in cold blood - for some reason most of you seem to go quite and call it Jihad
Now a strong reply should be sent to NATO and America by stopping Nato Supply (on every route) and stop all kind of negotiation with NATO and America till their apology. And permanently get out of this war on terror.
After 3 days NATO supply will resume. You heard it first here!
These measures are unsustainable if Pakistan has not decided to accept a downfall to a very bleak and isolated future for itself. Can Pakistan afford to do without Trade concessions, loans and aids from US and EU and other NATO countries ? Can Pakistan do without the supply of spares from the NATO countries for its military hardware ?
Let us suppose that NATO steps back and accepts mistakes. Then after some time again repeats this same thing. What will Pak do ? Can it confront the US in the long run ?
Pakistan has no choice. It may raise a lot of hue and cry but ultimately it will have to fall in line.
Enough is enough. Pakistan must cut off NATO supplies to Afghanistan for good. We should stand up on our feet. Businessmen should pay full taxes so that we do not need to beg from others. If not, then businessmen of our country are to blame for our humiliation.
for how many hours/days?
Don't make a mockery of Pakistan, please
This is war!
the govt. will soon allow NATO containers to go through this route. nothing will be changed.
what else they can do .........................??? stop the supply ...keep in mind that its tax free supply to NATTO ,.1 week maximum and then every thing will be back to normal ...what abt our soldiers ..our national integrity ,...... Shameless people ......including ourselves ....
Once again US and NATO soldiers will be using GRASS instead of toilet paper!!!!
The only thing we can do for a day or two.
Strange why NATO troops never get shot at by Pakistani troops, is it plain incompetance by NATO or a cowboy mentality or what?
Pakistan should respond in kind and then issue an apology, works both ways.
And don't forget to switch your mobile phones off too.
This is a much needed step as it his high time the ambiguity on the goals in Afghanistan are clearly enunciated by those fomenting terrorism as well as those fighting it. Rejecting all financial Aid should be the next bold step needed to break the slave/master relationship.
Good. Who do they think they are? Ingrates!
I have always wondered that why Pakistan is allowing the NATO supply via country in spite of all the misdeeds they are doing with the country. From tomorrow the supplies will again began and we will forget all this because this has now become a routine for us. SAD !!!
This looks childish, either they should retaliate or wait for the explanation from the NATO officials. Do they mean, if you transport goods via central asia then you are allowed to shoot at our soldiers.
This is extremely horrible Cut it off permanently. and Get out of this War oF Terror enough is enough seriously
Happy thanksgiving..NATO