Contemporary Comments (I) 03 January, 2011, 2011

Nato consignments

THE chaos resulting from Pakistan`s halting of the transport of Nato/Isaf goods is worsening. Since the decision was taken in protest against the Nov 26 attacks on border check posts, hundreds of containers carrying goods bound for Afghanistan, and unloaded before the ban was imposed, have piled up. In the absence of a decision on what is to be done with these goods, facilities at the Karachi and Bin Qasim ports have been clogged while the manoeuvring space for materials imported and exported as a matter of course by Pakistan has also decreased. While the pile-up slowed down in recent weeks as the passage of ships carrying Nato/Isaf goods came to a halt, Saturday saw the docking at Karachi port of the US vessel Freedom. Two more vessels are due soon, although the port is already severely congested. While there has been no apparent breakthrough in Pakistan-US relations, the fact that Freedom was allowed to berth at Karachi port raises the question of whether any agreement, tacit or otherwise, has been reached. Clarity on the issue is urgently required, for Nato/Isaf goods already stored at various terminals have not been sent on, and neither has any clear-cut decision on the matter been announced. Apparently, two issues lie at the heart of the matter: political posturing between the US and Pakistan, and finances. If the stumbling block is the former, the government needs to ensure that its firm stance does not redound and result in the clogging of key port facilities. Some, however, believe that pressure tactics are being employed as Pakistan wants to impose an additional transit fee on goods` transport. This dimension is relatively simple to resolve. There have also been concerns lately of the cost the Nato/Isaf goods` transport is extracting from the country`s road network. However, this constitutes muddling the issues for these goods were being shifted through local transportation companies and the required taxes and tolls were being paid. The point that Pakistan needs to settle is whether or not it is ready to keep the supply line open, and at what fee. The mode of transport is not germane to the matter. Indeed, if Pakistan wishes to cooperate, the transport of Nato/Isaf goods to Afghanistan could be an effective means of resuscitating the railways.

-Dawn