America Pays Dearly for Afghan Transit

Pakistan names new conditions for transit of cargo for NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Pakistan may soon renew the transit of cargo for the international contingent in Afghanistan. This was indirectly confirmed by President Asif Ali Zardari’s announcement yesterday that he will attend the NATO summit in Chicago. However, the parties must still agree on payment for the transit, which could reach $5,000 per container.

Remember, Islamabad closed its borders for cargo transit last November, after 24 Pakistani troops died as a result of a NATO air attack. However, according to recent data the Pakistani cabinet authorized officials, in the course of talks with U.S. representatives, to renew transit if the parties can agree on new conditions.

The U.S. did not apologize for the incident, and did not curtail drone raids that often lead to casualties among civilians. However, it has powerful leverage — Pakistan’s military badly needs help as it continues to prepare for conflict with India.

At the same time, Washington is interested in the swift opening of the so-called southern corridor, through which coalition forces could receive up to 70 percent of their cargo. Pakistan is also the primary intermediary between Kabul’s officials and the Taliban movement. The success of these talks will determine the departure timeline of foreign forces, including the Americans, from Afghanistan.

Judging from everything, the main topic of discussion was the price of resuming transit. It consists of two components — military assistance and direct payments for transit. Islamabad maintains that NATO must pay about $5,000 for each container or fuel truck that crosses the border. The explanation here is simple: heavy trucks ruin the pavement and the authorities have to pay for that as well as to protect the convoys.

As the Washington Post writes, such statements have caused consternation at the Pentagon, because after all, American forces are the basis of the international contingent in Afghanistan. After the terrorist acts of September 11, the U.S. granted Pakistan billions of dollars in military assistance in order to compensate for the expenses of its participation in the War on Terror. Previously, transit was free for the U.S. and its allies, and they paid only for the services of local transport companies. Now, they will most likely have to pay extra, which will significantly increase the cost of supplying their forces as well as removing their property when the withdrawal of the contingent begins. There is talk of billions of dollars, because the volume of traffic supplying the international forces amounts to tens of thousands of containers annually.

Observers do not exclude the possibility that as a result, the northern transport corridor, which crosses Russian territory, could become more attractive. In the framework of support for the international forces in Afghanistan, Moscow does not collect a transit fee, although the northern corridor is more expensive regardless. It is, however, considered more reliable. It is known that there have been instances where containers sent across Pakistan have arrived at their destinations filled with rocks and trash.

The other question which the U.S. and Pakistan must resolve is the volume of military assistance. It was frozen after transit was shut down. Now Islamabad claims that it is owed $3 billion. The Americans name a somewhat lower sum: $1.3 billion.

Meanwhile, a compromise with Islamabad still won’t guarantee smooth movement for NATO supply convoys. Because of systematic CIA drone strikes and Washington’s arrogant conduct after the November incident, anti-Western sentiment in Pakistan is stronger than ever. The day before, representatives of the largest religious party in the country, Jamaat e Islam, threatened that its supporters will close the roads that carry cargo to the foreign forces in Afghanistan.