Elements other than apology keeping GLOCs closed: Panetta
"The problem is that at this point that they're asking not just for that (apology) but other elements that have to be resolved," Panetta told the US Senate Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the FY2013 Budget Request for the Defense Department.
When pushed by the committee that Pakistan wanted a high level apology from the civilian US administration, Panetta said that the US has already expressed regret for the Salala incident, but there were other issues, currently being negotiated with Pakistan, which would determine reopening of the Nato supply routes.
Closed routes costs US $100million a month
Asked to justify spendings and an increase listed in the defense budget, Panetta said that the closed Ground Lines of Communications (GLOCs) through Pakistan were costing the US as much as $100 million a month to maintain supplies on alternate routes.
The Secretary said that it was ‘very expensive’ to use the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) to both provide supplies to US forces there and for the logistical support for withdrawal efforts.
US apology key to reopening GLOCs
As Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dempsey and Panetta testified before the Senate subcommittee on Appropriations for Defense, Senator Dianne Feinstein said that mistakes had been made on both the US and Pakistan side when Nato helicopters attacked the Salala border check post, killing 24 soldiers as a result.
During the hearing, Senator Feinstein said that based on her discussion with ISAF Commander General John Allen, it was clear that both sides had made mistakes during the incident. She said it was her information that Pakistan, above all, wanted a civilian announcement that mistakes were made on the US side and that they would lower the cost in return for an apology.
"The national security of this country is best served if we have a positive relationship with Pakistan", Feinstein said, adding added that with the appointment of a new ISI head and other factors, "this might be a new opportunity to do that."
Senator Feinstein asked why there can't be a statement on the matter of mistakes made by the US.
Panetta countered that it's not so simple. "That isn't the only issue."
In response to a question on whether military assistance to Pakistan should be cut, Secretary Panetta said, "I'd be very careful about shutting down aid to Pakistan. I'd look at conditions of what we want them to do."
COMMENTS (35)
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US aid is a myth. Hardly anything came in from KL and even what is already owed, i.e. Coalition Support Fund. The americans are in a habit of announcing huge aid funds. They then use this announcement as bargaing tool. Most of the funds are expended on their own operaters, executives and field workers. The budget never allows more than 25% to be actually applied on a given project. If there is any evidence of US aid in development I and infrastructure, I would like to see someone point it out. Please dont talk of the hand pumps and toilets that they have been established in villages. As for the NATO Routes, I have a message for the US, do what you can and do your best, we are tired of your threats.
, “I’d be very careful about shutting down aid to Pakistan. I’d look at conditions of what we want them to do.”
It is high time we should stop doing what they want us to do for some dollars. We should get out of this war imposed on us by the US administration, working for the Wall Street Establishment's global interests. The Americans themselves are adversely affected as evident from the demonstrations. Pakistan had nothing to do with 9/11 nor was any individual from Pakistan involved. US occupied Afghanistan and pushed so called Al-Qaida people into Pakistan to pursue them violating our air space and territorial integrity. After about ten years we find that Pakistan remains target in this whole venture.
Our economic conditions have deteriorated because we depend on US aid. These will not improve if we do not take measures stop loot by our US appointed rulers. We have enough resources to sustain us if we live within our own means. Making vigorous efforts to improve relations with neighbors Iran, Afghanistan, India and the regional powers including Russia will save us from US threats and blackmail.
btw... who comes up with these terms? NDN, GLOC etc.
@Khan: well if they cut the aid which is coming as part of KL Bill, let them do that and convert that into 200 mn for GLOCS. remember, KL is an aid and GLOC fees is a genuine fees for using the infrastructure of Pakistan. Both are not the same.
Its just a matter of picking the better of 2 evils.
Earlier US was picking Pakistan over NDN, thinking at least we are saving a lot of money. But, things have come to pass that it ended up giving Pakistan a lot of leverage with just a supply route. On top of that Pakistan used this leverage to actively support people who endanger American lives.
So, by simple calculation NDN just costs more money to the US, but Pakistan costs US its war in Afghanistan.
But, all hope is not lost. Pakistan is a bankrupt country, isolated and barely growing(but growing tremendously when it comes to population). It is going to default on its loans in a few weeks and then it would have to run to the IMF for a bailout and guess whose approval is required.
Not only that, US could withdraw crucial military and civilian aid from Pakistan, depriving them of important forex.
US can just divert the resources it used to pamper Pakistan and use it for NDN. I seriously do not know what the above commentators are so happy about.
@Truthbetold: if US stops $3b, takes all its CIA agents back from pakistan, stope more than 50 acres embassy/millitary base in islamabad, stop interfering pakistan matter..... wont be a bad deal for pakistan.
This news report has too many repetitions and has become extremely involved. The news desk should have re-written and made it to the point as the matters involved are serious. If I had written it I would have confined it to four or five paras.
@Chopper: Thats a lot of money !
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: It is people like you that all bad decisions get taken in Pakistan. Us will never give you a commitment of no further ingress in Pakistani air space because of history of harboring of terrorists. It is all about money. Forced increased payment now, will convince US to cut money from other funds that affect rural poor and army. You guys easily say that you don't need funds when your rural poor do need. You don't care because you are not as much affected. During floods or earthquakes, other than US, hardly any country gives to Pakistan and you want to kill the golden goose. if US is annoyed, there are many places where cuts can be made in later years. In addition new forms of warfare can be unleashed that are non bio, non chemical and non-nuclear- so silent that you wont know whats happening. You guys are asking for the ox to come and gore you when you do not have too many places to run. Funny! Stupix!
@Truthbetold: 100 million US a month is nothing compared to the tens of billions of damage done to Pakistan's roads and infrastructure.Think about the trillions that Pakistan saved the West when they were a front line state used to defeat the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and bringing about the end of the Soviet Union. By helping to bring to an end the Cold War, Pakistan not only made the world a safer place but saved the West trillions. 10 or 20 billion dollars is no compensation for the sacrifices given by Pakistan or the instability caused by Pakistan's work. Not only should Pakistan's entire debt be written off like the less deserving Greeks, Irish, Spanish or Portuguese but the West should rebuild Pakistan's economy and infrastructure as partial payment for the damage done to Pakistan during over 25 years of war in Afghanistan.
@Kay u ppl are crying for opening of routes we r not..... come to our terms or enjoy the myth.
For the death of US civilians the USA will go to war but it won't apologize for the deaths of an ally that has sacrificed more than any ally in the war on terror. Now this is friendship.
@Kay: Haven't you been reading the posts? It's almost as if the Siachen tragedy was India's fault as it was keeping the Pakistani soldiers in harm's way.
This was all posturing from the US - this is how the US treats its allies. Very rightfully so, Henry Kissinger once said it was more dangerous to be a friend of the US than its enemy. All this is being to a country that has volunteered more soldiers and resources than any of the US's supposed allies in the war on terror. All Pakistan got for it was the "do more, do more" mantra.
The fact is that the US needs Pakistan - it needs Pakistani territory to transit supplies and also evacuate from Afghanistan. $ 365 million a year is much cheaper than $ 100 million a month but maybe the Americans' weak grasp of arithmetic is causing them to forget the matching concept of the numbers.
Pakistanis should not forget that they are not Iran. We lack a lot FAITH, COURAGE & MODESTY.
Anan do u have electricity to watch the news cause u seem oblivious..... no disrespect meant ......
The jingoist patriots who are gloating it would cost the US $100M a month more to use the northern route are forgetting some important facts. The US has been giving Pakistan a total of about $3B including, coalition support, Kerry Lugar aid, transit fees and other aid money. If the US stops all this and decide to use the northern route, in effect, it could be actually saving about $150M a month. The old adage that it is not a good idea for beggars to be demanding is still valid.
Just $100 million per month? These numbers are highly undervalued... there has to be something else that keeps irking and frustrating the Americans and ISAF!
@khan, KL bill was passed in 2010 and Pakistan was to get $1.5bn per annum...but it's 2012 and the total amount received by Pakistan for KL bill is less than a billion!
Jewish Democratic Senator lobbying for Pakistan --- that must make some of your right wing imam's cringe.
In each drone or military attack, US kills unproved and innocent Pakistani people and soldiers then regret.
Pakistanis would like to see a written apology from US President Obama over these unproved incidents and further commitment that US will never ever violate Pakistan's Airspace, whether through drones or otherwise.
Enough is enough.
It is time for US to tender a written apology to Pakistan if US want to break the deadlock.
What amount of money is worth the lives of Pakistani soldiers and civilians who will be killed by the hundreds if we attack Haqqanis?
Don't give the Defense Secretary Leon Panetta any more money to illegally help Obama kill with drones.
49:00) " Mr Defense Secretary you ought to know what is an act of war" Operation Odyssey Dawn and US Military Operations in Libya http://youtu.be/MTvYbRII4-Q
High Treason: Obama and Pentagon Declare Congress Invalid 2012 http://youtu.be/faRjF3-WGVA
Kucinich: Nancy Pelosi was wrong to block impeachment http://youtu.be/_j0NIZCC6cA
Why can't you just simply apologies, you did it when SRK was illegally detained at one of your airport.
with the appointment of a new ISI head and other factors, “this might be a new opportunity to do that. So Mr Panetta, you are accepting that Gen Pasha was making you run here and there? And that's why he was severely criticized by "certain circles in Pakistan"?
Few days back someone here on this forum was shouting loud about northern routes and the benefits it yields and the misery Pakistan is going to face. This must be very hard for them to ingest right now.
Trust me no amount of threats will work, because things are already so bad here, I dont think it can get any worse. We Pakistanis want to keep the routes closed indefinitely. But since you are begging and pressuring us so much, either you apologise or you keep forking out 100million per month.
@HASAN MEHMOOD: This $100m is over and above the supposedly $30m spent through GLOC. I think Chopper was making a suggestion rather than a revelation :P
@Chopper: I think its much less than that. I read somewhere that total transit fee expected is 365 Million $ per year i.e 30 Million per month. However USA is paying 100 Million $ per month but not prepared to compromise with Pakistan due to sheer Super Power arrogance.
Definitely there are alot of other elements accompanying the important element of appology. Its not simple matter as it seems, it addresses matter related to pakistan national security which is the most important. I hope US understands and muse over it. Pakistan should uphold its national interest and patience must be shown on both sides. Pakistan and US has to work together to move on as this is the only way forward. If the blame games continue it will not help bridging the gap. This will not help in any sense.
@Chopper: Apart from reimbursement we actually receive over $billion dollars per annum under KL bill for development etc its not very wise of us to wrangle about GLOC fees. They can easily withdraw KL bill and even pay 200 million for GLOC instead while stopping all development works in future.
well who ever wrote this news artical, i would like to increase your knowledge that they r not 24 ppl they r 24 Pakistani Soilders. write the true words.
"Closed routes costs US $100million a month" It's okay, they can pay Pakistan $85mn a month and save $15mn. Not a bad deal.