PESHAWAR:
As the blockade of Nato supply routes in Pakistan entered its 13th day on Wednesday, Nato allies gathered in Brussels to discuss increasing tensions with Pakistan, and the host of the force’s alternative supply route, Russia.
While tensions had been simmering with Russia over Nato’s missile shield project in Europe, barbs were exchanged on Tuesday after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced “serious concerns” about recent Russian parliamentary elections and called for allegations of fraud and vote-rigging to be investigated.
Despite lingering suspicions, Russia has allowed the alliance to use its territory to send vital supplies to troops in Afghanistan. The transit route became all the more important after Pakistan blocked the southern supply route on November 26, in retaliation to the cross-border strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops in Mohmand Agency.
The political administration of Khyber Agency subsequently began turning away Nato oil tankers and containers from Takhta Baig check post. While the move was hailed as an assertion of sovereignty, it has led to other, unintended consequences, such as leaving thousands of daily wage workers without a source of income.
Left high and dry
Talking to The Express Tribune, All Pakistan Tankers Association (KP chapter) president Haji Ashraf Khalil said 1,200 Nato containers and oil tankers had been parked permanently at various petrol pumps and hotels along a 300 kilometre stretch between Talagang and Chowk Munda.
“Two drivers and two cleaners run a single container. Even if 4,800 people who wholly depend upon the passage of Nato supply are left jobless, what are their families supposed to do?” Khalil asked rhetorically.
He went on to add that the blockade had not only resulted in unemployment but had also led to losses for the association with expenditures running up to Rs0.2 million a day since the supply had been suspended.
“We have been bearing Rs0.2 million loss a day. We pay drivers and cleaners. We bribe the police, pay for the security of the containers and oil tankers, and even to militant elements who threaten us,” Khalil said, adding that they had been paying Rs0.42 million in taxes to the government and they wouldn’t let a single container leave for Afghanistan until they had been compensated.
Sigh of relief
On the other hand, businessman at Karkhano market in Jamrud and tribesman living along the Torkham-Jalalabad route breathed a sigh of relief when Nato supplies were suspended.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Wali Khan Afridi, a crockery merchant at Karkahno market said incidents of bomb blasts and torching Nato containers had become a routine headache for all businessmen and residents.
“These containers and oil tankers used to stay at Karkhano market and whenever containers were attacked, our shops were also gutted in the aftermath,” Afridi said.
[With additional input from AFP]
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2011.
COMMENTS (10)
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@Hamid:
Standing on your feet hasn’t happened in 67 years. How long do you think it is going to take with the civilian thieves and military gluttony eating the nation.
My guess is, it is going to get a lot worse before it is going to get any better. Have nukes though and that’s a consolation.
@K. Salim Jahangir:
We paid $1.2 billion per month just do that. It all went to some bank overseas so, you need to ask your military and civilian leaders.
Go check the link below dumbs:
http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/pr-10052603.html
@ashok sai: There has to be an end to extra-judicial kililng by NATO inside Pakistan.
When western powers come east they even forget their own laws and value of human time.
what will they do when NATO n US escapes from the region... better move on to something else these truck drivers!
To our In Love Ruling Class with US "There is a saying – give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. You often end up “spoon-feeding from US in shape of AID or war economy” for country. Eventually, you have no say in the world.
Stand on you own feet and that the way. After all, this war has to come to an end and economy based on warfare will severely be effected as the war fatigue is all around. Look for agriculture & industrial development to avoid the problems for people that are approaching fast once this war is over. Nether we are retaliating nor creating problems for the alliance. Just take care of the interest of this nation and get rid of them as quickly as possible and let them fight their own war if they want to continue.
Teach you country men how to earn then relying on economy based on war or AID.
It is not only the loss of NATO but a severe loss of Pakistan too . They can get alternative to it but what will happen to the economy of Pakistan . Can Pakistan afford the retaliation of the west in its responce . It will not ensure the sovereignity to the Pakistan .
One thought,you have already done it.....Madam Secretary! be quick.......... Pakistan corridor is no longer available.We are busy repairing our infrastructure already badly damaged by you.How about picking up the tab for using our skies,roads, air bases,cost of military equipment & other army expenses withheld by the American Administration (read over US$ 2 billion).
We should not forget one thing that we are dependent. No matter how we hate them, we need them..... we have been thrown into the dark world of dependency by our own leaders and lords for the sake of their own control. BUT we cant see them.....
If NATO can materialise the NDN route to cent percent, we can see a new chapter on war on terror, titled 'How to get rid off an ally, who became an enemy'.
people on daily wages... what will happen and how to feed family....and when these truck drivers hit pedestrian/motorcycles/vehicle in cities and get caught. All their family memeber come and asks for maafi.... or they run away leaving the crippled person behind without the fear of Allah in their heart? On one hand these people act like innocent victim and on the other hand, truck/bus drivers kill people in city with their criminally negligent driving.