NATO blockade: Supplies sail past PTI sit-in, cross Torkham
Three containers loaded with goods passed through Khyber Agency en route to Karachi.
Some of the containers entering Pakistan are parked at the terminal and provided security by khasadar and other paramilitary officials. PHOTO: FILE
LANDI KOTAL:
Nato supplies and equipment continue to travel through Peshawar via Khyber Agency in spite of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) sit-in, which the party claims actively blocks such containers.
A political administration (PA) official, requesting anonymity, confirmed the restoration of Nato supply lines. He said containers loaded with equipment from the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan continue to traverse the border.
On Friday, three containers loaded with goods passed through Khyber Agency and made their way to Karachi, he added. The vehicles came the night before and, after screening, were parked at a Nato Terminal under high security.
After a go ahead from the customs, the vehicles set out for Karachi in the early hours of Friday morning, passing through the Jamrud check post and Peshawar.
The PA official said on January 23 and 24, two containers from Karachi went to Afghanistan after passing Peshawar; none of the PTI activists stopped them. “They (PTI protesters) cannot stop vehicles on their own. After screening, the vehicles are allowed to leave for Afghanistan.”
The PTI set up camps on Ring Road and the motorway on November 23, 2013 to block the inflow and outflow of Nato trucks from the province. PTI Chairman Imran Khan had declared the blockade would continue until the US stops drone strikes. Despite the prolonged protest, Nato containers continue to pour in across the border. Just five days later, six vehicles carrying supplies were allowed to go to Afghanistan while two more crossed Torkham border on November 29.
Another PA official deployed at the border said some of the containers entering Pakistan were parked at the terminal and provided security by khasadar and other paramilitary officials and will be allowed to leave for Karachi after PTI activists end their sit-in.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2014.
Nato supplies and equipment continue to travel through Peshawar via Khyber Agency in spite of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) sit-in, which the party claims actively blocks such containers.
A political administration (PA) official, requesting anonymity, confirmed the restoration of Nato supply lines. He said containers loaded with equipment from the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan continue to traverse the border.
On Friday, three containers loaded with goods passed through Khyber Agency and made their way to Karachi, he added. The vehicles came the night before and, after screening, were parked at a Nato Terminal under high security.
After a go ahead from the customs, the vehicles set out for Karachi in the early hours of Friday morning, passing through the Jamrud check post and Peshawar.
The PA official said on January 23 and 24, two containers from Karachi went to Afghanistan after passing Peshawar; none of the PTI activists stopped them. “They (PTI protesters) cannot stop vehicles on their own. After screening, the vehicles are allowed to leave for Afghanistan.”
The PTI set up camps on Ring Road and the motorway on November 23, 2013 to block the inflow and outflow of Nato trucks from the province. PTI Chairman Imran Khan had declared the blockade would continue until the US stops drone strikes. Despite the prolonged protest, Nato containers continue to pour in across the border. Just five days later, six vehicles carrying supplies were allowed to go to Afghanistan while two more crossed Torkham border on November 29.
Another PA official deployed at the border said some of the containers entering Pakistan were parked at the terminal and provided security by khasadar and other paramilitary officials and will be allowed to leave for Karachi after PTI activists end their sit-in.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2014.