Indian goods being taken to Nato troops via Pakistan

Despite Pakistan’s refusal to let Indian products be taken to Afghanistan through its territory under the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT), Indian goods are being taken to the country via Pakistan under the tags of Isaf and Nato.

Documentary evidence placed in the National Assembly library may have failed to catch the attention of honourable parliamentarians, but International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) personnel are receiving Indian goods transported through Pakistan under special arrangements.

Soon after the US attacked Afghanistan, the military regime of General Pervez Musharraf offered a special concession whereby Isaf and Nato got a blanket cover for importing their cargoes through Pakistani ports and airports. The government issued the Customs General Order (CGO) 12/2002 for the purpose.

Such goods were given customs duty exemption and Pakistani customs officials were neither allowed nor they had any mechanism to check details of imported items and had to accept the information provided by the countries in the international alliance.

The present government made no changes in the arrangement introduced by the Musharraf regime.

A recent information sheet of cargoes meant for Nato transported through Pakistan carries the name Tata—a 66-seater bus—scores of other Indian brand items which are mentioned only as ‘Provisions for Isaf and Nato’.

According to Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Hina Rabbani Khar, the movement of consignments for Isaf and Nato to Afghanistan is not covered by the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) 1965, which is a bilateral accord.

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