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| India-Pakistan |
| Truckers refuse to haul NATO, US supplies |
| 2008-12-16 |
| Pakistani truckers are refusing to haul vital supplies to NATO and US forces in Afghanistan because of mounting attacks along the main route, a transporters' association said Monday. Pakistani troops recently began escorting convoys through the Khyber Pass to the border to protect them from Taliban ambushes. Western military officials insist their Afghan operations are not at risk. President of Khyber Transport Union Shakir Khan Afridi told Daily Times that transporters would not continue supplying goods to NATO. He cited US strikes in the Tribal Areas as the reason behind the decision, and said the Taliban had stepped up attacks on transporters amid a surge in US attacks. Shakir said that tribal transporters were not safe on the main route from Karachi to Torkham. He said the supply could be restored if the US assured Pakistan that missile strikes in the Tribal Areas would stop immediately. Shakir said members using some 3,500 trucks and trailers were boycotting carrying military supplies. The manager of the Port World Terminal, where a recent attack took place, confirmed a shortage of trucks, but said he was trying to persuade the transport firms to return. A senior political administration official told Daily Times supplies to NATO could be sent through the Khyber Pass as AP reported that a convoy of 191 vehicles carrying supplies crossed into Afghanistan on Monday. NATO: A spokesman for the NATO-led force in Afghanistan played down the boycott threat, and said it did not deal with Afridi's association. Government assurance: Meanwhile, the NWFP government has assured transporters that their convoys would be provided full security. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #14 Muh usual pls. Shakered not stirred, no frothiness pls. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-12-16 18:13 |
| #13 100 blast-proof Q-Trucks. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-12-16 17:55 |
| #12 Some atomic carpet bombing of the area would do wonders Is that like an atomic Arclight strike? |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-12-16 17:15 |
| #11 At a place where I used to work, we had an IT guy from India. After 9/11 he didn't much like that we went through Pakistan to get to Afghanistan. He too wanted us to go through India. Not that he was right, but he was just one of a bazillion Indians that would like India to have a stronger relationship with the US. In long term, it's not difficult to imagine that partnerhsip could well outproduce our relationship with Pakistan. So sure, stengthening our alliance with India is likely a great idea. Not an original one by any definition, but still great. And also one that doesn't help the immediate situation in the slightest. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2008-12-16 17:09 |
| #10 There aren't, really. At least not truck-worthy. That's why I said "tenuous". Our 'Canadian' BDS-sufferer seems to think there is, tho. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-12-16 16:57 |
| #9 I thought if you looked on a map there weren't any connections between the Indian controlled territory and Afghanistan. Anyway, I thought there were essentially no roads in that part of Afghanistan. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2008-12-16 15:19 |
| #8 Through J&K? Talk about pouring gasoline on a fire. In any case it'd be a rather tenuous link. a disputed territory; far from any seaport. It'd also be about as stable as the Pakistan routes at this point. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-12-16 15:11 |
| #7 Duh, so persist with the US isolation of India. Bush-the-genius doesn't know that India has a border with Afghanistan. |
| Posted by: Jitch Protector of the Nebraskans3505 2008-12-16 14:53 |
| #6 Some atomic carpet bombing of the area would do wonders. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-12-16 13:48 |
| #5 You wanna bailout Shakir? Get in line. |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2008-12-16 12:54 |
| #4 Maybe time to drop a Hellfire in Shakir Khan Afridi's front lawn? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-12-16 10:26 |
| #3 Bambi's going to do a great job with the good war. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-12-16 07:18 |
| #2 How about "Missile strikes will remain limited to the tribal areas for the most part if supply lines are restored"? |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-12-16 03:02 |
| #1 He said the supply could be restored if the US assured Pakistan that missile strikes in the Tribal Areas would stop immediately. Hmm, let the shakedown commence. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-12-16 01:02 |