Pakistan may increase toll tax on containers carrying ammunition and other military hardware for US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) troops to Afghanistan by a huge 100 per cent, according to DunyaNews.
Presently, each container is charged $1700. Pakistani authorities are considering the option of blocking supplies of US troops deployed in Afghanistan through its territory amid the diplomatic tensions between Islamabad and Washington. The final decision will be taken by the federal government in this regard during the ongoing week.
Islamabad may also increase NATO’s aeronautical fee for the usage of its airspace. NATO is using Pakistan’s airspace for the last 16 years free of cost. At least 360 NATO flights used Pakistan airspace on a monthly basis when Afghan war was at its peak.
All supply of military hardware to NATO and US troops is carried out through Karachi port. The supply remained suspended for at least eight months after a NATO helicopter intentionally attacked and martyred 27 soldiers at Salala check post.
The US State Department on Thursday froze military aid to Pakistan until it took decisive action against terrorists operating in the country. It said it did not intend to reprogram any funds at this time.
The New Year tweet by US President Donald Trump accusing Pakistan of lies and deceit, thinking US leaders to be fooled, led to heightened tensions between Pakistan and the US.
“They give safe havens to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!” he said on January 1.
In an interview with The Guardian at the PM Office, Prime Minister Abbasi said that reports that the US was considering cuts of up to $2 billion in security assistance were bewildering as the total aid Pakistan – civilian and military – actually received was a tiny fraction of that amount.
“Pakistan is a sovereign country and Pakistan has always abided by international conventions,” he said in the report. “We are today fighting the largest war on terror in the world. We are fighting the world’s war on terror with our own resources … That is something the world has to appreciate.”
“We have over 6,500 [killed] almost 37,000 of the civilian population has been killed. There are tens of thousands of people injured. We have suffered a loss of over $120bn in our economy. So the world has to appreciate that. We just want the world to know that Pakistan is on the forefront on the war on this terror,” he stated further.
The federal cabinet on January 3rd, unanimously endorsed the stance adopted by National Security Committee (NSC) over the recent statements by the American leadership, terming them “detrimental” to the bilateral relationship between Islamabad and Washington—a relationship that has developed over generations.
The cabinet considered a proposal for granting extension in the Proof of Registration (POR) Cards and Tripartite Agreement (Pakistan–Afghanistan–UNHCR) for Afghan Refugees beyond December 31, 2017.
The meeting had also decided that the issue of early repatriation of Afghan refugees shall be raised with the UNHCR and with the international community. Pakistan’s economy has carried the burden of hosting Afghan refugees since long, and in the present circumstances, the country cannot sustain it further, emphasised the cabinet.
Losses incurred by Pakistan in war on terror
Earlier, official documents presented during an NSC meeting had suggested that Pakistan suffered losses worth Rs10tn in fighting terrorism over the last 16 years.
The documents suggest that Pakistan suffered a loss Rs5.3tn in its tax recovery system, sources disclosed. Similarly, Pakistan also witnessed a decline in foreign investment by Rs1.99tn, whereas Rs928bn in damages were caused to the country’s basic infrastructure.
In reference to privatisation, the country incurred losses worth Rs262bn, while an additional Rs15bn damages were incurred due to persisting uncertainty, sources added.
The highest losses incurred by Pakistan, i.e. Rs2.03tn, came in year 2010-11, followed by Rs1.96tn in 2012-13.
In 2009-10, Pakistan suffered losses of Rs1.13tn losses.
