SPY EYES

Opposition leader Nisar accused Foreign Minister Khar of brokering a ‘secret deal’ with the US and by passing parliamentary recommendations on the issue. Difa-e-Pakistan Council organized a ‘long march’ to Islamabad protesting the supply resumption and has now made arrangements for sit-ins along the supply route itself.

The question is not about whether the routes should have been reinstated or not. It was only a matter of time before this happened and analyses involving intentions and concealed agendas of America are irrelevant. As a matter of fact, Pakistan cannot afford to face international isolation for much longer, it needs the CSF quota US froze because of the route closure and it needs to make inroads to Afghanistan where India is busy consolidating a long-term economic and political settlement.

The US has just finished drafting an MOU with Pakistan, to be agreed and signed upon shortly. New terms of engagement, have come to light that need to be scrutinized, taking into consideration, the current security and political situation of Pakistan.

Currently under discussion is the agreement that no weapons are to be supplied via this border to NATO soldiers, the entire list of prohibited US cargo includes:  small arms and light weapons of all types, anti-tank weapons of all types, mortars of all types, tanks and armored vehicles, combat aircraft and helicopter, chemical and biological weapons and hazardous waste material including depleted uranium ammunition etc. Pakistan has the right to stop transit of any goods that fall in this category. However, military equipment for the Afghan National Army will be allowed.

This can lay rest to Hafiz Saeed’s fears, as he recently claimed that Pakistan was being used to supply weapons to ‘heathens’ who were killing Muslims. This can also allay fears that trucks carrying NATO’s weapons get ambushed and looted along the way and these weapons make their way to militants. The stipulation is an attempt to placate the Afghan Taliban who earlier declared a war on trucks transporting weaponry to NATO troops; however it doesn’t appear to be enough.

The first attack since resumption took place on Tuesday this week, when gunmen attacked a convoy, killing a driver in Jamrud. Two routes have been reserved for NATO supplies and the one passing through Torkhum has temporarily been suspended, ‘for security reasons’.  Local administration has informed that intelligence gathered suggests that attacks on NATO vehicles have been planned for this week in the region.

Earlier truck drivers launched concerns regarding security threats and requested the government to take proper steps to guarantee safety along the route. The incident this week has just serves to confirm their worst fears. The onus of providing security, according to the MOU, lies with Pakistan, who has allocated duties to the FC and local police, whereby they will escort trucks from Torkham and Chamman to Afghanistan.

However no taxes or duties have been levied on NATO vehicles, 300 of which are expected to pass from Pakistan to Afghanistan every day, though commercial carriers will have to pay fees. Pakistan will not provide NATO with storage facilities or warehouses and commercial carriers will have to assume responsibility for any damages to the goods.

The Foreign Office has assured that the MOU is completely in line with parliamentary directives. And after finalizing a few small details, will come into effect. Another MOU with US will be signed in September for carpeting roads used in supplying goods to Afghanistan, all the way from Port Bin Qasim. This MOU will entail a transfer of millions of dollars for rebuilding roads and highways NATO vehicles have been using for over a decade now. The injection of funds for rebuilding these roads will set in multiplier effects for the economy and improve infrastructure running the length of the country.

The MOU and the supply resumption stay in effect till 2015, with the possibility of an extension for a year, after a bilateral agreement. This deal may not have the bonbons parliamentary discussions suggested, but is pragmatic in its executability and projects long-term benefits for Pakistan. The fact that weaponry won’t be transported to NATO troops, should be used to placate the masses, elements like DPC have inflamed with their rhetoric. The next step for the parliament should be to discuss the MOU before it is signed and reach an agreement vis-à-vis the supply resumption. The stakes are higher than ever as 2014 draws near, and instead of using sensitive issues like this one, for political gain, the parliament needs to work on reaching a consensus and explaining pros, cons and repercussions to the masses in a manner bereft of rhetorical fly trappers.

By Sarah Eleazar