There are reports of the Nato supply route being opened from Pakistan’s side this month. Americans have been giving the impression that this halting of Nato containers from Pakistan was not impacting its supply or affecting the cost that is much cheaper than the Northern Distribution Network (NDN). The Central Asian States host the NDN that enables movement of Nato supplies and troops to Afghanistan. According to US estimates, 55% of non-lethal cargo at present goes through NDN using road and rail network. The long distance, the unfriendly terrain, the environment and roads condition take the US to pay six times more than the cost it spends while using the Pakistan route. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) of America is particularly perturbed over the closure of Pakistan route by Islamabad in protest against the Nato attack on Pakistan army check post in Salala on November 26. The delay by Pakistan government to accept to the US demand for opening the supply route and Torkham border for Nato containers is making the impact on US economy more visible than being accepted in public by the American officials. Though the plans are underway to further increase the NDN capacity, yet it is facing a lot many hurdles which are not likely to be overcome. Presently the cargo passing through Pakistan only is subjected to terrorist attacks. However, when lethal cargo is added to the traffic on NDN routes, it is definitely going to invite the wrath of the terrorists much to the expectations of Central Asian leaders. Hence the NDN just cannot replace Pakistani route for sustaining Nato forces in Afghanistan.
ESCHMALL SARDAR,
Peshawar, February 1.