The Federal Cabinet is likely to grant approval to a revision in the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and the US to ensure speedy transit of US cargo to and from Afghanistan through Pakistan. Sources told Business Recorder here on Thursday that the amendments in the existing MoU between the two countries would establish necessary measures and procedures to organise the transit of US Cargo through the territory of Pakistan, using Ground Lines of Communication (GLOCs) to and from Afghanistan.
US cargo covers non-lethal items including US Department of Defence provided humanitarian items including food, medicines, equipment, and materials designated for free of charge distribution among population of Afghanistan, US department of Defence provided daily activity support items, including those designated for US military, civilians, and other personnel embedded with US forces or for US assistance to Afghan security forces and military equipment, vehicles and other military property including those designated for US military civilians and other personnel embedded with US forces for US assistance to Afghan security forces or for transport out of Afghanistan.
Ministry of Defence had signed an MoU with USA for a period of three years which expired on 31 December 2015. On the request of US and in consultation with domestic stakeholders, the Prime Minister extended the validity of the MoU for another year till 31 December 2016.
Since the terms and conditions of the MoU were being revised and could not be finalised in time, the MoU was further extended up to 31 March 2017 with the approval of the Cabinet. However, presently important aspects such as duration of the proposed MoU and payment of services rendered are still being negotiated and are yet to be finalised; therefore, its finalisation may take some time.
However, both sides have agreed to further extend the duration of the existing MoU for a further period of two months, upto 31 May, 2017 for which cabinet approval is solicited. The Minister for Defence has seen and authorised submission of the summary to the federal cabinet. The consultations or any changes in the existing TORs shall, however, continue with a view to finalising them at the earliest. The amended TORs shall then become part of MoU as and when agreement is reached by both sides conclusively.
Sources said that a meeting of Central Co-ordinating Authorities (CCAs) Pak & US was held in Ministry of Defence chaired by Rear Admiral Faisal Rasul Lodhi Additional Secretary-III, Ministry of Defence. The meeting after a detailed discussion on the subject agreed that validity of the existing MoU on GLOCs may be extended for another period of tentatively one month ie upto 30th April, 2017, subject to the progress made in finalising the new MoU on GLOCs; based on the which Pakistan''s MoD can process the extension for up to two months ie till 31 May 2017 as required.
It was decided that validity period of the new proposed MoU will be one year; the requirement for which will be reviewed after six months by the CCA-PAK US. The rep of FBR/DG Transit Trade pointed out that there is a need to revisit the financial mechanism being followed, keeping in view the past experience of abandoned cargo and non-payment of Port Charges etc. It was decided that FBR would review the subject, after due consultation with Directorate of Transit Trade and port authorities. With regard to pending port and Terminal charges etc, the representative of KPT was advised to resubmit his case for further evaluation by CCA-Pak. US also agreed that the subject section may be reassessed by the Pakistani agencies and a proposed draft may be shared with them at the earliest for evaluation.
In the backdrop of the past experience in which the Nato containers lying at the port have been virtually disowned by both the US and the Nato authorities, the Pakistani side queried about the status of Nato when it comes to the new GLOCs MoU including the aspect of responsibility for their cargo. The US is in the lead role in Afghanistan however the US side did not pledge the ownership of Nato cargo but committed to responding as early as possible after consulting the concerned Nato officials.
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