US pays high price for Pakistan route cut-off: admiral

[Pak47]

WASHINGTON: Moving supplies to NATO troops in Afghanistan via Central Asia costs three times as much as routes through Pakistan, which Islamabad shut seven months ago in anger, a senior US officer said Wednesday.

"On the ground, it's almost three times more expensive to come from the north as it does from Pakistan. More expensive and slower," said Vice Admiral Mark Harnitchek, director of the Defense Logistics Agency.

NATO now uses an alternative network of northern routes that pass through Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Transporting a container from the United States to Afghanistan costs about $20,000, he told a group of defense reporters.

But the cost of ferrying cargo to the Pakistani port of Karachi and then over roads to the Afghan border amounts to only a third of that price, he said.

Pakistan imposed a blockade on NATO supply convoys after 24 of its soldiers were killed in a US air strike in November along the Afghan border.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said earlier this month that the Pakistan border closure costs the United States an additional $100 million a month.

Before the route cut-off, about 30-40 percent of the fuel used by coalition forces came through Pakistan.

Fuel is now transported over land via the northern routes, while food is flown in on cargo aircraft, he said.

"It was challenging initially and we took a bit of a dip there in terms of days of supply. But now our stocks of food and fuel have never been higher," Harnitchek said.

The supply routes will be on the agenda when the commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, General John Allen, meets his counterparts in Pakistan on Wednesday, officials said.

US officials raised expectations in May that a deal was imminent with Pakistan on the reopening of the routes, but no announcement came and Washington withdrew its team of negotiators.

The United States has refused to issue a formal apology over the air strikes, despite appeals from Pakistan.

Amid continued deadlock, the Pentagon on Wednesday expressed hope that a deal eventually could be reached on the supply routes.

"I think there is reason for optimism. I think we're reaching a point in our relationship with Pakistan that suggests that things are settling down a bit," spokesman George Little told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.

"I think the basis for some kind of agreement on the GLOCs (ground lines of communication) is there and is real and we hope that we reach a resolution," he said

http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=56316

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

No need to allow their Heavy containers. They are overloaded and great threat for our roads. 15000$ per container is reasonable price if they agree.

 

[Pak47]

No need to allow their Heavy containers. They are overloaded and great threat for our roads. 15000$ per container is reasonable price if they agree.

It costs them 20,000$ per one container.. from the northern route..

Lets leave it closed for a bit longer.

 

[Hyde]

Transporting a container from the United States to Afghanistan costs about $20,000, he told a group of defense reporters. But the cost of ferrying cargo to the Pakistani port of Karachi and then over roads to the Afghan border amounts to only a third of that price, he said.

Only if the Obama Administration were willing to set their ego aside and willing to co-operate with the GoP, the Nato supply lines would have been restored soon after the bonn conference. Now face the consequences!

 

[karan.1970]

It costs them 20,000$ per one container.. from the northern route..

Lets leave it closed for a bit longer.

You think an additional expense of 1.2 billion USD per year will make any difference to USA? They will just deduct it from its reimbursement/assistence to Pakistan.

 

[lem34]

You think an additional expense of 1.2 billion USD per year will make any difference to USA? They will just deduct it from its reimbursement/assistence to Pakistan.

penny wise pound foolish

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

no problem at all for Pakistan; and i could care less if a few truck drivers whine about it....

the Americans know how to move towards getting them re-opened --facilitating the process... if they are serious about it and not acting out of line

 

[Icarus]

The answer to this problem is simple:

1) An apology for the Salala incident.
2) Appropriate reimbursement for the damage done to the Pakistani road network by a decade of heavy trucking.

But this is much more than an issue of supply closure, it is a diplomatic row and that too a multi-factorial one. As soon as these issues can be resolved, the NATO supply can be resumed but that would require NATO to agree to fairer terms for Pakistan in this alliance, something that I know from experience that NATO will not give in to easily. They want to maintain a certain degree of pressure to mobilize Pakistan to suit their objectives, it is this 'We own you' approach that has lead to this diplomatic row in the first place.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

You think an additional expense of 1.2 billion USD per year will make any difference to USA? They will just deduct it from its reimbursement/assistence to Pakistan.

you are aware that much of the ''aid'' -- including CSF has largely been cut off since 2010 rite?

furthermore, such ''deductions'' have a negligible impact on Pakistan's formal economy (hardly 0.14% of GDP growth)

me personally --i believe they should keep the money for themselves. They'll need it just to secure Kabul before they cut and run (like they did in the 1980s)

 

[karan.1970]

you are aware that much of the ''aid'' -- including CSF has largely been cut off since 2010 rite?

furthermore, such ''deductions'' have a negligible impact on Pakistan's formal economy (hardly 0.14% of GDP growth)

me personally --i believe they should keep the money for themselves. They'll need it just to secure Kabul before they cut and run (like they did in the 1980s)

Please note the complete absence of the term aid in my post

And yes, I dont think 1.2 billion dollars would have any impact on either Pakistan or USA's economy. Also since a lot of this money will still find its way in the books of American companies involved in the the transfer of these shipments. The whole hoopla about getting the routes opened is more to do with Ego/Diplomatic posturing than with the economics of supply route costs.

 

[DelhiDareDevil]

penny wise pound foolish

yes pakistan loses out, so do nato speed of supplies

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Please note the complete absence of the term aid in my post

doesnt matter because CSF *is* the program under which reimbursements were being disbursed --along with other COIN support that was worked out well in advance

And yes, I dont think 1.2 billion dollars would have any impact on either Pakistan or USA's economy. Also since a lot of this money will still find its way in the books of American companies involved in the the transfer of these shipments. The whole hoopla about getting the routes opened is more to do with Ego/Diplomatic posturing than with the economics of supply route costs.

75% of the costs are admin costs; rest goes to the accounts of the US ambassadors favourite Washington/NYC based NGOs


(and yes - some of the State Dept. programs have helped Pakistanis on the social front - but all in all the funds are pittance and they aren't needed to keep the economy ''afloat'')

and yes it is diplomatic.....24 of our soldiers were killed @ Salala Checkpost and instead of apologizing they made lame, pathetic excuses....OBVIOUSLY it's diplomatic! No shyte!

it's also re-drawing and re-forming our terms of engagement......if they want our supply routes, they can pay the price....if they feel we are ''price gouging'' them that's their problem not ours. They can get 6 times more gauged via the NDN and they are more than welcome to exercise that option which is existing. If they dont follow our guidelines (this is our God damn country we cant do whatever we damn well please) and if they dont apologize - they can forget about cooperation from our side.

 

[Don Jaguar]

Uncle sam apologize and supplies are open with 5000 dollars per truck.

 

[Rank]

The problem is not apology and $$$ ... Problem is now Pakistan want FREE Afghanistan from INDIAN Interference technically. After 10 years of useless War What Pakistan Military now shifted and already clear US that if you want India in Afghanistan we will make A-Stan hell for you and for all those who think they're continue to play bloody game against Pakistan simple. If you are interested to stay in A-Stan for long term you SHOULD ACCEPT and AGREE on OUR TERMS and CONDITIONS and If you think you will stay there free and continuing exporting terrorism in Pakistan where India massively funding terrorist and create Anti-Pakistani-ism in A-Tan we will never ever allow supply + no strategical dialog + No discussion on your any kind of non-sense bullshits. Continue your Media game because you can't control Kabul xcept playing blaming Pakistan of your all ***** performance!

 

[iPhone]

It costs them 20,000$ per one container.. from the northern route..

Lets leave it closed for a bit longer.

it's not even just about higher price but longer travel time, too. They have to cross three countries, four including Afghanistan. All that with sensitive and heavy equipment, too. There are plenty of bendits and thugs along those routes.