First NATO supply trucks cross Pakistan border

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By MATIULLAH ACHAKZAI and MUNIR AHMED

CHAMAN, Pakistan (AP) - Trucks carrying NATO supplies rolled into Afghanistan for the first time in more than seven months Thursday, ending a painful chapter in U.S.-Pakistan relations that saw the border closed until Washington apologized for an airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Thousands of trucks have been waiting at ports in Karachi for the transit ban to be lifted as the diplomatic wrangling dragged on. Drivers are eager to get behind the wheel and start earning a lucrative salary again in what can be a deadly journey because of attacks from the Taliban.

"I risk my life for my family, and I risk my life because I get better pay for taking NATO supplies," said Tajawal Khan, who has been driving the dangerous route for the past few years.

"I know the Taliban may attack our trucks. But I tell the Taliban that we are doing this job for our family," he said by telephone from the cab of his tanker in Karachi, waiting to be loaded with oil before driving north toward Afghanistan.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120705/D9VQUT382.html

---

Pakistani border guards stand alert at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman, Pakistan, Thursday, July 5, 2012. The first truck carrying supplies to American and NATO troops in Afghanistan has crossed the Pakistani border after a seven-month long closure of the supply routes by Pakistan ended earlier this week. (AP Photo/Matiullah Achakzai)

[Stollon]

1. US to pay Pakistan for military cargos on its road to Afghanistan??

US to pay Pakistan for military cargos on its road to Afghanistan??

took it from the neighboring US Army society forum:

"Cheers your there from the very border of Pakistan and stinking Afghanistan! US Army on duty here! Low days, loud nights))) Our service now is to provide the homeland sent cargos to Afghanistan via that Pakistani garbage. Pretty soft job it is, but you'll never guess what?!! Today here we're additionally to pay 3 000 bucks to Pakistani authorities for every truck with the came from the US cargo crossing the border with Afghanistan! Can you believe it? Holy shit, as officially we're to pay... 5!! Aborigines impudent here indeed..."

Have I missed smth or what? Don't we pay millions to the regimes in Pakistan and Uzbekistan for using there infrastructures, do we??? So about what additional extortions write this soldier?? Dammy Pakistani are the same Taliban that our guys are pressing in Afghan! The question is: for what devil on this earth we press one gang financing and supporting at that one another?? Finally, there are not only two ways to deliver cargos to Afganistan from here! Why should we pay?? See strongest need in getting rid of Pakistan and getting rid of Karimov services!

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Let me know when the last one goes back across the border heading south.

Can't be soon enough.