As prospects of the resumption of Nato supplies brighten, owners of fuel transport vehicles urged the government for providing foolproof security against militants. "Fuel supplies cannot be resumed without provision of airtight security cover to trucks and convoys transporting Nato supplies across the country," President of All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association Yousuf Shehwani told Business Recorder on Tuesday.
Since September last year, Pakistan has blockaded all supplies to Nato forces in Afghanistan over land routes after Nato forces mounted an air strike at an army check-posts on the Afghanistan border, killing more than two dozens soldiers. Despite encouraging signals from both sides regarding the resumption of Nato supplies, transporters continue to air concerns about security threats. "We want the home ministry of Khyber Pakhunkhwa and Interior Minister to provide with security arrangements during the fuel supplies to across the border," said Shehwani.
He pointed out that about 3,000 oil tankers were ready to begin fuel supplies to Nato forces whenever the government allowed transporters to go ahead. He said: "The US is more vigorously pursuing the case and appears to be ready to accept conditions sought by Pakistan for the resumption of fuel and other cargo supplies to Afghanistan," he added.
However, he said: "The government is still unclear about transporters in this regard." Shehwani criticised the government, saying that vehicle owners had spent a lot of money to revamp their off-road vehicles, making them road worthy. He said that even after two months, no progress was made in this regard. He said that some 400 drivers transporting fuel to Nato troops had either been killed or injured during violent attacks. He said about 150 cleaners have been injured since the Nato supplies started following the fall of Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001.
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