ISLAMABAD: The paramilitary rangers has started taking possession of highly sensitive US cargo stranded in Pakistan following the blockade of the Nato supply route by Pakistan in protest against the November 26 air strikes that killed two dozen Pakistani border guards.
Sources told Express News that Pakistan Rangers has been directed by ‘high authorities’ to take over the cargo containing military hardware and ammunition till the government makes a decision about the re-opening of Nato supply route.
Pakistan Rangers is said to have acquired a yard, namely Mega 6, at Karachi’s Port Qasim for this purpose. “We have acquired a suitable place at Port Qasim where the sensitive cargo will be stored for the time being,” a senior official told Express News.
Sources said the National Logistic Cell (NLC) was earlier tasked to keep the US military hardware and ammunition into its custody. But later on the responsibility was assigned to Pakistan Rangers.
Sources in the Rangers confirmed to Express News that as soon as any vehicle loaded with US cargo appears on Superhighway they take it into their custody. “After taking possession of the cargo we transport it to the Port Qasim Mega 6 yard,” a senior official said.
So far, sources say, Pakistan Rangers have taken possession of as many as 250 cargo units whereas the paramilitary force has been directed to keep an eye on nearly 3,256 more cargo units stranded in Pakistan after the blockade of Nato supply route.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2011.
COMMENTS (70)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1712071304-0/image-(14)1712071304-0-270x192.webp)
@Harry Stone: how do you explain Cambodia and Laos?
This is most welcome news. Now the Pakistani's have more equipment to keep killing each other. The NLC is owned by the Pakistani military and run by retired officers. The NLC also traffic's in heroin so the Pakistani military continues to be main supplier of heroin and weapons to the Pakistani people. How quaint!
Taliban opening a political office in Qatar after all. Pasha flying off to meet US officials in Doha. And this. All part of effort to re-establish relations with the US so Pakistan is involved in the final settlement negotiations that will start off in Doha.
Finallyyyy ... We are reconsidering our dangerous friendship with US. History tells us that the US is only capable of destroying its friends not enemies. Like Cambodia like Hosni's Egypt like Sadam's Iraq... Like Gadaffi's Libya (never did anything when was the enemy, only destroyed it when became friend). Need more............alright.....US can not do anything to Iran (enemy). It can not do anything to Venezuela (enemy).... etc etc etc.. We should get out of this war. Close the borders and let be neutral and let US and Afghanistan settle their issues themselves.
Excellent. Make them pay!
Pakistan should demand US to pay for the pays of security personnel and allied facilities used. They should pay as we paid for stranded F- 16 aircrafts.
May be Pakistan already agreed and bought it from the US on the sidelines. Who knows . . .No need to be alarmed, US and Pakistan are old timer, old friends. Old friendships always stays no matter who ever tries to interfere (such as the villan India).
Dear Pakistani youth, Peoples from your "Neighbouring" country are acting as "Khala Kheran" here, and passing such remarks to instigate your feeling, but please don't get panic, and don't let them succeed. Pakistan Zindabad!
We should pay them back in inedible low quality grain like they did when they seized our F16s.
This one is for free, keep it or hand it over to the assets for light and fire display.
well US and NATO will think a few times before another "friendly fire" on pakistan army. A good lesson for NATO,ISAF and US. Glad Pakistan army gave them a clear message.
This refers to the news that Rangers have been asked to take possession of US cargo, destined for Afghanistan. Remember, when USA refused the delivery of our fully paid F16's, they also charged from us the parking fees? So it is high time we paid the Americans in the same coin, to let them have a taste of their own medicine.
America and NATO owe PAKISTAN A LOTS OF DOLLARS as funds for the services provided and the roads destroyed. Pakistan should keep the American & NATO cargo and return only after AMERICA pays!!!!
Thousands of Nato Trucks are stranded from Port Qasim to Chaman. Upon Mr Paha's latest trip to Doha, he was handed the list of most sensitive equipments and asked to collect all that in one secure place. I think thats whats going on.
@syed baqar ahsan: Dear Sir, I can only concur with what you have said. The U.S.have been taking advantage of Pakistan generosity for nearly a decade by using its infrastructure, and other assets, on the cheap. One has to give it to the Americans though. They have learnt their lessons from the British in an exemplary way. The British have always stolen, plundered, and killed anybody who got in their way, and somehow made it look as if they were doing the unlucky recipients of their brutality a favour. I can only repeat, the Americans have learnt well.
@syed baqar ahsan: We understand the games the US plays and will not fall in to their trap. But that does not absolve Pakistani governments for all the crimes they have committed against India all these years.
@Vikram: when our friendship was taken for granted our everything was mis used...road,ports,garrisons,persona ls,environments,double gaming by funding,guarding,arming TTP for terrorism in Pakistan.Huge net work of spies war spread to grab our nuclear assets.They have even stopped $3.2b for all that they have used our resource and promised to pay.mind you i e not aid money,Americans are worst black mailers in this world and that who knows better than Pakistan.
US has to help baloch to liberate balochistan, if they want to keep their hold in this region.
@Vikram: try to learn from our slavery to US,don't be sympathetic.You will repent one day of this friendship
Hey, I want to see these notorious items with which they have destroyed the lives and land of Afghanistan.
Are Pakistan and USA at war- has the US equipment been seized as enemy property?
@Troll be gone because Kal ho na ho:
Actually the objectives the Americans wanted to accomplish in V-N were accomplished. You saw no other nation ins SE Asia become communist. That was the whole point of that war.
As for Iraq, again the US objectives were accomplished. The people of Iraq were afforded the opportunity establish a democary and live in a nation where the rule of law was the law of the land and was applied equally to all. Whether the Iraq takes advantage of this opportunity only time will tell.
Today I would say Iraq is more on the road to becoming a failed nation like PAK.
So, US suspension of military aid started to taking its effect !!!
@ISI:
You are too funny. Are you planning to put on a bomb vest?
May be this is being held as security for money owed. Or maybe this is mainly for security and safegaurd reasons.
@Troll be gone because Kal ho na ho: Serious!! China does it to protect its economy since they need to keep buying dollars in order to keep their Yuan artifically low. Those dollars goes in to safe havens like US treasury bonds..Nobody is forcing China to buy $$$..Grow some brain..
BTW, thats China's worry so what's in it for you boast about unless you are considered to be a province of China..
@baljinder singh: Look who's talking haha an Indian. Haha
@Mansoor:
Two possible scenarios. Meant for internal dissidents in Pakistan to support a full scale insurgency. Supplies for ANA (Afghan national army) as foreign forces begin to withdraw from Afghanistan.
The fact that they have been seized suggests that suspicion about the cargo is serious enough for it to be confiscated.
It meirts an investigation to say the least.
Pakistan most likely will say sorry and return the equipment, but part of equipment will some how disappear
Pakias only Expert in Theft this further example of that
@Gerry Faulkner: Dude, US has been playing with Fire. Stop playing war games with $$$ borrowed from China. Old day are bye bye...........You lost in Nam, you lost in Iraq and really, in Afghanistan so what chance you have with 180 million folks?
@Mirza
Superb! You made my day. Really, seizing equipments (theirs') which they are taking out of the country is stealing, pure and simple.
This is sensational. US is not used to being "told" things. It can be a good starting point though.
The Americans are known to revere the culture of payback. The pak army is messing with the wrong guys. Pakistan is going to regret it's many actions at the leisure of the Americans.
Story is unclear -- doesn't really give you a reason for the seizure . Lets hope it's guarding the property at the American's behest - otherwise it's theft or extortion which isn't going to help Pakistan image.
@ISI Go threaten poor Pakistani civilians, they are dying everyday in blasts conducted by your former "assets".
@Gerry Faulkner: calm down. My government is stupid but not that stupid. There must be a reason, and im sure the delay is just beureaucratic or laziness, not due to malice. They will be returned soon.
And people wonder why the world despises Pakistanis so much! Just read some of the comments on here. If Pakistanis are foolish enough to want to play games with America and try and toy with them--go ahead but I don't want to suffer the consequences along with other level-headed Pakistanis.
Even to this day after thousands of Pakistanis have been killed by extremists, Pakistanis still view India and America as the enemy. Absolutely pathetic!
The world's most dangerous terrorist was found inside Pakistan and yet some still want to blame others!
We deserve all the calamities that our nation faces!
@Gerry Faulkner: and America is playing with its death
Go ahead and steal it. It is not as though anyone will be shocked at Pak behavior. That ship sailed a long time ago.
oh goody I say keep the equipment until US pays the bills that are long due.
US should take their other equipments as well from pakistan(Raw agents,taliban,CIA agents,suicide bombers etc)
This is very sensitive matter - lets play sensible!
Pakistan needs US support and must remain on the good side of US. Hopefully us Pakis will not see this seizure as a brave act, instead a transitionary phase for US equipment.
Just like the Pakistani army "seized" the stealth helicopter after OBL raid. Who are we kidding. Spineless nation with corrupt politicians, jahil awam and incompetent generals!
Upgraded suicide jacket for ttp caught by rangers.p.
From mercenary to bandits! Happy New Year.
What are anti aricraft guns doing in American cargo. Talibans don't have air crafts....!!
Use the anti-aircraft guns to secure the Western front.
This is unacceptable,Pakistan is playing with fire.
I'm pleasantly impressed! The military has taken some strong measures.
pakistan on its way to sucide. who can save someone determined for self destruction.
Is the army ready for a full scale war with USA ???.
pakistan on its way to sucide. who can save someone determined to self destruction.
Game rules demand safe and quick return of material to consignor. If previously agreed, tarrif etc can be demanded. In any case confiscation for long period at all not justified. Any attemp in this direction will further dmage the mutual relations and reputation of Pakistan in internaitonal community.
Being strong and brave is good. Provoking a giant is foolishness.
Gov. Should Make sure such things Remain safe!! Or Under Official use if There is no plan to return the stuff :P
think it's Hummers and not hammer vehicles... saw this mistake a couple times... copy-paste needs improvement...
Why US military equipment was doing in Karachi?
The Foreign Office of Pakistan should ask explanation from US before it is released.
Why is Pakistan doing this when US and NATO want to get all their equipment out of Pakistan?
Games played all around the country.
Seized or controlled only to prevent any robbery or incident for secuirty for puppets....?
I think government should keep control on the american military equipment untill further notice. But we should return their equipment once we decides to close the NATO supplies permanently.
Thank you for this good and uplifting news......Once the United Satans is stamped out of Pakistan and muslim lands the Ba Ba Blacksheep westoxicated scum will be expunged from Paak and pure Pakistan..
keeeep it! and send it to China for reverse engineering !
Now thats a ballsy act....way to go!!