Supply to Nato, ISAF forces reduced

The supply of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) via Pakistan has been considerably reduced after the torching of convoys destined for Afghanistan. Khyber Transport Association's President Shakeer-ullah-Afridi confirmed that the size of supply to Nato and ISAF forces has been significantly reduced after a series of attacks on the convoys bound for Afghanistan.
Talking from Landi Kotal, near Pak-Afghan boarder, he said that the transporters have refused to ply their trucks under threats from the Taliban and religious groups. According to data, the number of tankers carrying oil supplies to Afghanistan has declined to between 70 and 100. Non-oil containers crossing the boarder are on average between 50 to 100 and their journey limited to day light hours. The death toll of transporters who have won the contracts of supply to Nato forces reached to 85 since 2002. In addition to this, 130 persons have lost their limbs and arms in different attacks on containers bound for Afghanistan in the past.
Shakeer said that since the time Nato and ISAF forces began to use Pakistan as a transit supply country 1320 oil tankers and 140 containers have been torched in Pakistan. He said majority of victims have been sub-contractors with no direct links to Nato or ISAF. Majority of the victims were residents of border areas between Pak-Afghan he added, and were engaged in the transport business even before Nato forces invaded Afghanistan.
He further said that the contract obliged the transporters to pay 12 percent commission and rent to the main contractor on each trip to Afghanistan. During a briefing at Nato headquarters, a spokesman said, "There is no strategic disruption to Nato supplies, not least to thanks to the very significant efforts by the Pakistani Frontier Corps and others to ensure their security which we have seen again".
The spokesman further expressed satisfaction over military to military co-operation between Nato, Afghanistan and Pakistan and maintained that it has not diminished in any way as a result of recent events. Ministry of Ports and Shipping revealed that it has not been directly dealing with Nato's supply containers at the port. However, following the directive of National Assembly's Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping, Ministry is considering collecting a heavy toll from transporters who carry any supply to Afghanistan for repair and reconstruction of roads damaged due to heavy load.