US military departure from Afghanistan ‘cluttered’

[sharjeel1992]

US military officials tasked to shift military equipment from Afghanistan to USA are in a clutter after the exit routes for them seem blocked.

Right now, US have 48000 military vehicles, 30000 soldiers and around 81.5 million items that need to be moved from Afghanistan back to the US. However, all the exit routes for US army are either blocked or barred with obstacles.

It is being said that the total cost of items that need to be shipped is around $33 billion.

According to a news story on RT, Russia, after the imposition of sanctions by the west and especially the US is in ‘no way’ going to let the US army use its routes to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan.


US has around 30,000 soldiers in Afghanistan. Photo: wikipedia

The route of 3000 miles passes through Afghanistan to Kazakhstan to Russia and then to north European sea. Around 75% US military equipment was supplied to Afghanistan through this channel however due political turmoil it’s unsafe to travel.

On the other hand, the second route goes through Peshawar in Pakistan to Karachi and then into the Arabian Sea.

A Retired US military official Doug McGreger, sees it as the ‘best and the fastest’ way to get out of Afghanistan.

However, due to tensions between both the countries the route itself is barred with tensions.

Full news US military departure from Afghanistan ‘cluttered’ | Point Raiser

 

[Nishan_101]

US military officials tasked to shift military equipment from Afghanistan to USA are in a clutter after the exit routes for them seem blocked.

Right now, US have 48000 military vehicles, 30000 soldiers and around 81.5 million items that need to be moved from Afghanistan back to the US. However, all the exit routes for US army are either blocked or barred with obstacles.

It is being said that the total cost of items that need to be shipped is around $33 billion.

According to a news story on RT, Russia, after the imposition of sanctions by the west and especially the US is in ‘no way’ going to let the US army use its routes to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan.


US has around 30,000 soldiers in Afghanistan. Photo: wikipedia

The route of 3000 miles passes through Afghanistan to Kazakhstan to Russia and then to north European sea. Around 75% US military equipment was supplied to Afghanistan through this channel however due political turmoil it’s unsafe to travel.

On the other hand, the second route goes through Peshawar in Pakistan to Karachi and then into the Arabian Sea.

A Retired US military official Doug McGreger, sees it as the ‘best and the fastest’ way to get out of Afghanistan.

However, due to tensions between both the countries the route itself is barred with tensions.

Full news US military departure from Afghanistan ‘cluttered’ | Point Raiser

Then it might come to Pakistan?

 

[OrionHunter]

After the imposition of sanctions by the west and especially the US is in ‘no way’ going to let the US army use its routes to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan.

Nice! I like that! The US thought it could screw Russia by imposing sanctions. Now what?

The only alternative is to blow the stuff up.

 

[nangyale]

US military officials tasked to shift military equipment from Afghanistan to USA are in a clutter after the exit routes for them seem blocked.

Right now, US have 48000 military vehicles, 30000 soldiers and around 81.5 million items that need to be moved from Afghanistan back to the US. However, all the exit routes for US army are either blocked or barred with obstacles.

It is being said that the total cost of items that need to be shipped is around $33 billion.

According to a news story on RT, Russia, after the imposition of sanctions by the west and especially the US is in ‘no way’ going to let the US army use its routes to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan.


US has around 30,000 soldiers in Afghanistan. Photo: wikipedia

The route of 3000 miles passes through Afghanistan to Kazakhstan to Russia and then to north European sea. Around 75% US military equipment was supplied to Afghanistan through this channel however due political turmoil it’s unsafe to travel.

On the other hand, the second route goes through Peshawar in Pakistan to Karachi and then into the Arabian Sea.

A Retired US military official Doug McGreger, sees it as the ‘best and the fastest’ way to get out of Afghanistan.

However, due to tensions between both the countries the route itself is barred with tensions.

Full news US military departure from Afghanistan ‘cluttered’ | Point Raiser

One question that comes to mind is, why is the US not leaving most of the equipment for the ANA to use?
Granted there will be some top secret tech that they won't give to anybody, including their own allies.
But the majority of the equipment are not top secret tech.
So what's the reason, for the ANA not being equipped with tanks, fast jets or even proper transporters and medical evac?

@Afghan-India @Peter C @boomslang @RescueRanger @Pakistanisage @OrionHunter

 

[sharjeel1992]

One question that comes to mind is, why is the US not leaving most of the equipment for the ANA to use?
Granted there will be some top secret tech that they won't give to anybody, including their own allies.
But the majority of the equipment are not top secret tech.
So what's the reason, for the ANA not being equipped with tanks, fast jets or even proper transporters and medical evac?

@Afghan-India @Peter C @boomslang @RescueRanger @Pakistanisage @OrionHunter

I am not tagged so I should not be answering but here is what comes to my mind. US has 81.5 million items that it needs to ship back. Which includes 50K vehicles and 100K weapons. It will auction most of it to Afghan, Pak and other countries. Moreover, ANA is being trained by US army and will be facilitated with some of the stuff as per a pact.

 

[nangyale]

I am not tagged so I should not be answering but here is what comes to my mind. US has 81.5 million items that it needs to ship back. Which includes 50K vehicles and 100K weapons. It will auction most of it to Afghan, Pak and other countries. Moreover, ANA is being trained by US army and will be facilitated with some of the stuff as per a pact.

The reality is that the US is shipping most of the equipment back, the rest it is either selling or donating to neighboring countries.
My point is that the war the US was fighting in Afghanistan is sting on going. It's not like the insurgency has gone away or decreased, if anything it has increased further.
To counter it and to have any semblance of a national army the ANSF badly needs air assets (fast jets, transporters and plenty of helicopters) and ground assets (including tanks and heavy artillery). In reality the US is only handing over small arms and some Humvees.
So the question remains is the US deliberately trying to leave Afghanistan undefended so it signs the BSA and is dependent on the US for protection? or, is it because they distrust the ANSF so much that they don't want them to have anything more lethal than an M-16?

 

[sharjeel1992]

The reality is that the US is shipping most of the equipment back, the rest it is either selling or donating to neighboring countries.
My point is that the war the US was fighting in Afghanistan is sting on going. It's not like the insurgency has gone away or decreased, if anything it has increased further.
To counter it and to have any semblance of a national army the ANSF badly needs air assets (fast jets, transporters and plenty of helicopters) and ground assets (including tanks and heavy artillery). In reality the US is only handing over small arms and some Humvees.
So the question remains is the US deliberately trying to leave Afghanistan undefended so it signs the BSA and is dependent on the US for protection? or, is it because they distrust the ANSF so much that they don't want them to have anything more lethal than an M-16?

A very good question indeed, Yes, US is intentionally trying to leave Afghanistan and not leaving the weapons on Afghan soil as it wants the new Afghan president to sign a pact with the US army so US army can remain in the land post 2014.
The bottomline is, US wants its influence to remain so it can keep an eye on China, Russia and India. The dominators of the future.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Keep in mind not all the stuff the US military has are "weapons".
You name it and they probably hauled it over.
Cement trucks, front-end loaders, cranes, bulldozers, graders, steamrollers, etc.
Anything and everything it takes to build green zones, military bases, and other buildings.

 

[Masterio92]

Nice! I like that! The US thought it could screw Russia by imposing sanctions. Now what?

The only alternative is to blow the stuff up.

And you think with denying of NDN, US would drop its long term objectives in Eastern Europe? We are here to allow them for safe exit
Rest assured that Pakistan will never exploit this situation for its benefits.. like it will never ask for ending of its airspace violations, detachment from war on terror that cost us more than 60 billion $ along with a monster of terrorism, ending of discriminatory approach at the forum of NSG etc

 

[jin]

And you think with denying of NDN, US would drop its long term objectives in Eastern Europe? We are here to allow them for safe exit
Rest assured that Pakistan will never exploit this situation for its benefits.. like it will never ask for ending of its airspace violations, detachment from war on terror that cost us more than 60 billion $ along with a monster of terrorism, ending of discriminatory approach at the forum of NSG etc

They are leaving! then what wot?

 

[Masterio92]

They are leaving! then what wot?

They leave Afghanistan in term of number of troops. The war can be dragged on many grounds.... taliban uprising, and then their tackling through Afghan forces and droning if BSA signed, hence the perpetual backlashes and mantra of do more.

The best outcome must be a prosperous & Democratic Afghanistan with friendly ties with its neighbors.

 

[dawn_news]

The reality is that the US is shipping most of the equipment back, the rest it is either selling or donating to neighboring countries.
My point is that the war the US was fighting in Afghanistan is sting on going. It's not like the insurgency has gone away or decreased, if anything it has increased further.
To counter it and to have any semblance of a national army the ANSF badly needs air assets (fast jets, transporters and plenty of helicopters) and ground assets (including tanks and heavy artillery). In reality the US is only handing over small arms and some Humvees.
So the question remains is the US deliberately trying to leave Afghanistan undefended so it signs the BSA and is dependent on the US for protection? or, is it because they distrust the ANSF so much that they don't want them to have anything more lethal than an M-16?

Afghanistan will be dependent on western aid since they provide 90% of budget. Imagine someone giving Pakistan $30 billion or more aid every year so basic services can work. Thats where Afghanistan is, with exports of just $376 million and gov revenues only $1.5 billion. They have no other option then sign the deal with USA and to continue ocupation.

 

[nangyale]

Afghanistan will be dependent on western aid since they provide 90% of budget. Imagine someone giving Pakistan $30 billion or more aid every year so basic services can work. Thats where Afghanistan is, with exports of just $376 million and gov revenues only $1.5 billion. They have no other option then sign the deal with USA and to continue ocupation.

You are right about the percentage of Afghan budget and how it enslaves the Afghan administration. The problem is that money is not really filtering down to the ordinary Afghans.
So yes the BSA will be signed, and the aid will keep flowing, the political class will keep on getting richer, while the ordinary Afghans will keep on bleeding.

 

[dawn_news]

You are right about the percentage of Afghan budget and how it enslaves the Afghan administration. The problem is that money is not really filtering down to the ordinary Afghans.
So yes the BSA will be signed, and the aid will keep flowing, the political class will keep on getting richer, while the ordinary Afghans will keep on bleeding.

Afghans will be stupid to waste that aid, and it seem most of $90 billion aid has been wasted. Not even one world class hospital has been build if that user is right. It also depend how the development budget is distribuited, because if im not wrong Taliban strong hold is east Afghanistan where most pashtuns live. Basically east Afghanistan will get the least benefit from development budget.

How does development budget get distribuited in Afghanistan? Just like in Pakistan where its given on basis of province population?

 

[nangyale]

Afghans will be stupid to waste that aid, and it seem most of $90 billion aid has been wasted. Not even one world class hospital has been build if that user is right. It also depend how the development budget is distribuited, because if im not wrong Taliban strong hold is east Afghanistan where most pashtuns live. Basically east Afghanistan will get the least benefit from development budget.

How does development budget get distribuited in Afghanistan? Just like in Pakistan where its given on basis of province population?

It's not so much that Afghanistan is wasting the money but the whole system that has been setup to distribute that is corrupt and prone to corruption.
Take for example that a huge part of the developmental budget is in the hands of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT). These PRTs are embedded with ISAF troops. The troops goes and decide what need to be built and which community is to be helped and the PRTs approve the projects and give the contracts. The problem with this model is that it becomes kind of bribes for the local communities to not attack, which also means that these projects become a target for the opposition. Which then has to be protected from those attacks hence attracting huge security operations in order to safeguard these very projects. But this security is mostly not provided by ISAF or ANA but is sub-contracted to local players, which is either the local warlord or the local Taliban faction. This is one problem.
The other problem is the contractors themselves and the for-profit NGOs that run the projects and their huge salaries paid in dollars, combine all the factors and you will see that it's a big gravy train for everyone but not the actual poor Afghans on the ground.