Cargo control: Eight NATO containers cross into Afghanistan

Protesters send three containers back from Hayatabad Toll Plaza.

LANDI KOTAL/ PESHAWAR:

Even as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its coalition allies sent back three containers suspected to be carrying Nato supplies, at least eight vehicles supplying goods for foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan crossed over between November 27 and Wednesday.

The eight vehicles which traversed the border at Khyber Agency had been parked at the Nato terminal at Torkham before the PTI sit-ins started on November 23 and were waiting for customs clearance.

Torkham political administration official Mairaj Khan confirmed the containers had reached the terminal on November 22 and had been awaiting clearance. Khan added six containers were allowed to cross into Afghanistan on November 27, while the two other containers crossed the border early Wednesday morning.



Khan claimed there was news of some Nato containers loaded with goods from Afghanistan having reached Torkham from the neighbouring country.

The political administration official said they are reportedly parked at the terminal and are being patrolled by khasadar and paramilitary officials. They will be able to reach Karachi once the PTI are done with their protests as they cannot allow the container to leave the terminal till then, stated Khan.

Cargo sent back

On the 12th day of protest against drone strikes and Nato supply lines by the PTI and its allies, activists sent three suspected Nato containers back from Hayatabad Toll Plaza on Thursday.

PTI Peshawar district general secretary Younas Zaheer told The Express Tribune party workers from PK-II and activists from the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan were all present on the 12th day.

The sit-in camp had checked several containers and documents for verification, claimed Zaheer. He confirmed they had sent three ‘Nato’ containers back.

Zaheer said Thursday’s sit-in was partially over by evening and on Friday, PTI’s activists from PK-III would run the camp.

Former MNA and JI tribal region leader Sahibzada Haroon visited the camp in Hayatabad and said they would continue with the movement till there were no more drone strikes in Pakistan. The tribal belt is also part of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and tribesmen must participate in the protest against drones, said Haroon.

On December 2, two containers thought to be carrying goods for Nato troops in Afghanistan were sent back. The transport vehicles were sent packing after protesters, led by PTI, suspected their documents had been fabricated.

On Tuesday, PTI chief Imran Khan said his party was considering blocking Nato supply routes in other provinces as well.

“PTI may block routes in Punjab and Balochistan as supply is being carried out via the Chaman border,” Imran told The Express Tribune.

Earlier, addressing a protest camp at Hayatabad Toll Plaza, Imran questioned why the federal government failed to implement the resolutions passed in both provincial and national assemblies against US drone strikes in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2013.