Resumption linked to action against troops

Pakistan's demand to Nato appears to be last minute hiccup to delay agreement.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan military has asked for ‘disciplinary action’ against the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) troops who unlawfully intruded into its territory. It has linked the resumption of Nato supplies with ‘concrete action’ by allied forces to ensure that such incursions do not happen again, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The demand appears to be a last-minute hiccup to delay an agreement between the two sides on the findings of the joint investigation into last week’s incident. Nato airstrikes on a security check post in Kurram Agency killed three Pakistani soldiers last Thursday.

Supplies to Nato troops remained suspended on Tuesday for a sixth consecutive day.

Strong condemnation and protest from Pakistan forced the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan to agree on a joint investigation.

Pakistan and Nato were ready to make public the findings of a joint probe on Tuesday but differences between the two sides on certain issues prevented the agreement, a senior Pakistan military official told The Express Tribune.

“We have made our point very clear that disciplinary action must be initiated against Nato troops, who violated the rules of engagement,” said an official who requested not to be named.

He disclosed that a two-member Pakistan military team, which went to Afghanistan for the joint investigation, was given an assurance that Nato will not only offer a public apology but also take action against its troops if they are found guilty of violating the rules of engagement.

Nato secretary general and the top US commander in Afghanistan have already offered their regrets and condolences to the families of soldiers who were killed in the strikes.

However, Pakistan made it clear to Nato that it wanted action against the troops who ‘unlawfully’ intruded into its territory. “Our findings have proved that Nato’s airstrikes were in sheer violation of the Standard Operating Procedure,” said another military official.

Pentagon officials are hopeful that Nato supplies from Pakistan would resume soon and the US is in contact with Pakistan over the issue.

They also said that the joint investigation report is expected to be made public on Wednesday.

Meanwhile supply to Nato via Torkham border, remained suspended on the sixth consecutive day as containers supplying oil to Nato were not given permission to go to Afghanistan on Tuesday.

According to media reports, more than 200 containers’ supply to Nato via Pak-Afghan border remained frozen on the sixth day. The supply was suspended to protest an alliance helicopter attack that killed three border guards.

A high level Army team has been sent to Afghanistan to probe the violation of the air territory and to discuss the matter with Nato officials there. On the other hand, attacks on Nato oil tankers are on the rise as the days go by. The country termed the attacks a public reaction.

Meanwhile, an unannounced ban has been imposed on the movement of oil tankers and containers supplying oil to Afghanistan. According to BBC, the country has not yet announced the ban but high officials have said that the ban is in place due to security threats.

Officials of the All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association (APOTOA) said that over 6,000 containers are parked in different areas of the country. Spokesman APOTOA Israrullah Shanwari said that the government had not provided protection to the parked oil tankers knowing that they have become an easy target for miscreants.

Meanwhile, a government official said that a small bomb damaged a truck that was parked near the border, carrying oil to Nato troops in Afghanistan. Tuesday’s bombing was the fourth attack on stalled Nato supply convoys since the country closed the main border crossing last week.

Wajid Khan, a local administrator in Khyber, said the bomb was planted underneath the tanker while it was parked alongside more than 100 other trucks waiting to cross into Afghanistan. Khan said that the oil started leaking out of the damaged tanker following the attack and authorities were moving the other trucks in case a fire started.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2010.