WaseemBhai
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Will Pakistan become the American junkyard after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan?
There have been reports that the US is not interested in transporting back some of its military equipment keeping in mind the huge cost of shipping it back to the US and wants to hand over the $7billion worth of mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles it is struggling to get rid off as it leaves Afghanistan.
It is planned that the US would handover to Pakistan its excess baggage free of cost as the projected cost of shipping each vehicle back is estimated to be $100.000 each and Pakistan is interested in the left over military hardware the US does not want to leave in Afghanistan.
According to the reports discussions have been going on between US and Pakistan and US is ready to dump them with their allies at no cost.
Pakistan has particular interest in US army's MRAPs to be used by its military against its fight against Taliban insurgents in its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
Pakistan is also interested in acquiring night-vision and communications equipment and experts say that the deal would be beneficial for both the countries.
The US has concerns about the Afghan military's ability to fend off the Taliban insurgents and feels it is safe to park them in Pakistan instead of leaving them in Afghanistan.
There have been apprehensions about the deal with US concerned about the impact it may have with its relations with India and Afghanistan but does not see it a very big issue.
The reports said that with a few hundred MRAPs ending up in Pakistan, India would have no serious concerns as these vehicles are built to fight insurgents and would have no bearing in a major cross-border war involving tanks and war planes.
In any case Pakistan itself would not want a huge amount of equipment to be left behind and become America's junkyard, the reports speculate.
---WASEEM SIDDIQUI