Pakistan-US MoU not to allow arms cargo to Afghanistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, July 27, IRNA -- Details of the draft of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and the US regarding the NATO supply route reveals that there will be no transportation of arms and ammunition into Afghanistan via Pakistan for foreign troops.

However, military equipment for the Afghan National Army will be allowed, the draft of the MoU to be signed soon further said.

The draft, which has been prepared and could be signed any time, says that two routes will be used by containers carrying NATO supplies.

The Foreign Ministry said Thursday that the MoU will be signed soon. The federal cabinet has already approved signing of the agreement.

The draft says that there will be no tax or duty charged on the containers, however, commercial carriers will have to pay fees. New fees can also be introduced for the quick transfer of cargo.

Containers on the southern route will travel to Afghanistan from Karachi's Bin Qasim Port via Chaman in Balochistan province. On the northern route, containers will travel from Karachi via Torkham in northwest Pakistan to Afghanistan.

The MoU further stated that there will be no warehouses or storage facilities provided for American goods and no new No Objection Certificates (NOCs) will be required for the transit.

Pakistan will also be allowed to stop the transit of goods which fall outside the parameters of the MoU.

Pakistan will also provide facilities for the security and quick transfer of the cargo and will keep the US government informed about the monitoring and transit points of the cargo. Containers travelling to Afghanistan will be bound to return via Pakistan.

Pakistan's Defence Ministry will act as a central coordination authority and review the daily operations and implementation of the supply route.

Officials from both countries will meet once every two months to evaluate the implementation of the MoU. According to the draft, any misunderstanding will be cleared through mutual understanding and not a third party.

It is clearly written in the draft that commercial carriers will be responsible for any damage to the goods.

Transport of non-lethal cargo which includes food and medicine will be allowed in containers measuring 20 by 40 feet, the draft says.

The MoU will be applicable after it is signed by both countries and will be valid till 31 December, 2015 and could be extended for one year after consultations. Both countries will also have to inform each other in writing if they want to discontinue the MoU.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80248889