New MoU over Pak-US relations

[VCheng]

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from: Cabinet approves MoU on new terms o engagement with US | DAWN.COM

ISLAMABAD: Federal Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday approved signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States on new terms of engagements and restoration Nato supply routes.

Briefing media representatives later, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said this is in line with parliamentary committee’s guidelines that there would be no hidden or unwritten agreement with any foreign country and every agreement would be in black and white.

Draft of the MoU was finalised after extensive consultations and input from all relevant ministries, armed forces which reflect transparency in government’s foreign relations, he noted.

He said the cabinet has also allowed petroleum and natural resources ministry to initiate talks with India to explore possibility of purchase of POL products.

“For import of gas from Iran, we will have to lay about 1,000 KM pipeline but for import of natural gas from India, we will have to lay only 60 km pipeline and if it is feasible, it can provide instant relief to the nation,” said the information minister while commenting on gas pipeline issue.

Import of these products could be inexpensive due to proximity factor. There is possibility of Pakistan exporting Naptha to India. Ministry was permitted to initiate talks with India for RLNG import. Final decision will be taken on receipt of terms, conditions and financing feasibility, said the minister.

To a question, Kaira said general elections in the country will be held next year and government will contact the opposition on caretaker set up when that stage comes. He said the prime minister is taking personal interest in resolving power crisis.

Moreover, the cabinet also formed a committee over Balochistan situation. The committee would present its report in a week, said the information minister.

[RazorMC]

The agreement is a phoney document designed to fool the masses. As if the US will choose to abide by 'rules and regulations'.

[VCheng]

The agreement is a phoney document designed to fool the masses. As if the US will choose to abide by 'rules and regulations'.

Well, it is dignified with a democratically elected parliament's blessing, right?

[Armstrong]

Well, it is dignified with a democratically elected parliament's blessing, right?

Sahib...kabhi hamarei bhi sakei ban jao !

[VCheng]

Apparently, the draft is available to the public:

from: Pak-US NATO MoU prepared according to UN charter - geo.tv

ISLAMABAD: Geo News has received a copy of the draft of the Memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and the US regarding the NATO supply route.

The draft which has been prepared according to the UN charter will not allow the transport of arms and ammunition into Afghanistan via Pakistan. However military equipment for the Afghan National Army will be allowed.

Transport of non-lethal cargo which includes food and medicine will be allowed.

According to the agreement Pakistan will be responsible for security.

[Oscar]

This is the advantage of democracy.. NO one man has power to wield or hide decisions from the public.

[IZVINITE]

Pakistan Government should do whatever is in the best interest of Pakistan .

[Stealth]

UlTIMATE BEGERAT! fauj and Hukmaran dono!

[VCheng]

This is the advantage of democracy.. NO one man has power to wield or hide decisions from the public.

Exactly. At least this time around a more open process has been adopted into formulating an important aspect of foreign policy, which is an important step in the overall evolution of governance in Pakistan, I think.

[VCheng]

from: Pakistan hopes new MoU with US to be signed soon | DAWN.COM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday expressed the hope that the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding new terms of engagements with United States and ISAF on the issue of resuming NATO suppllies through Pakistan will be signed soon.

In his weekly news briefing, the Foreign Office Spokesman Moazzam Ahmed Khan said the MoU, which has already been approved by the federal cabinet in its meeting held on Wednesday, is in line with the recommendations of the parliament.

He said at this stage there is only one MoU concerning the ministry of defence.

Replying to a question about strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States, the spokesman said the schedule in this regard has not yet been finalised.

Commenting on attacks from the Afghan side, the spokesman said Pakistan is actively engaging the Afghan government as well as ISAF command on this issue. He said, “This is a serious issue.”

He expected that some corrective measures would be taken by the Afghan government and ISAF on this issue.

The spokesman said Chairman Afghan Peace Council Salahuddin Rabbani will visit Pakistan soon however, dates for his visit have not been yet finalised.

He said in the joint statement issued at the end of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf’s visit to Afghanistan, it was made clear that Pakistan is ready to extend every kind of support for durable peace in Afghanistan.

Commenting on the killings of Muslims in Myanmar, Khan expressed the confidence that Myanmar government will take necessary and appropriate steps to address this issue. He said it is a matter of concern, however, the situation there has improved substantially.

Replying to a question to file a case against the British newspaper “The Sun” for publishing a story of fake passports, damaging Pakistan’s credibility, the spokesman said its not a bilateral issue, therefore, it is not in the purview of the foreign office.

He further explained that it’s a matter with a private newspaper and the ministry of interior and ministry of information and broadcasting will take up the matter of filing a case against the newspaper.

[RazorMC]

Exactly. At least this time around a more open process has been adopted into formulating an important aspect of foreign policy, which is an important step in the overall evolution of governance in Pakistan, I think.

Not really. There is no democracy or transparency involved here. Just a political, point-scoring illusion to deceive the public into believing (or misbelieving) that the govt. gives a rat's buttocks about national issues.

[VCheng]

from: Pakistan, US to sign Nato supplies accord today | DAWN.COM

Pakistan, US to sign Nato supplies accord today
From the Newspaper | Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, July 30: Pakistan and the United States will sign on Tuesday the bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) on transit of cargo.

US Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Richard Hoagland and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Rear Admiral Farrokh Ahmed will sign the agreement on behalf of their governments.

Once initialled, the MoU would replace the existing arrangement for Nato supplies, which was reportedly based on a ‘verbal understanding’.

Nato supplies were resumed on July 3 as per the previous arrangement after a seven-month suspension in the aftermath of Nov 26 Salala border attack in which 24 Pakistani troops were killed.

The new agreement that runs through 2015 can be subsequently renewed.

The accord has provision for other NATO/ISAF countries to accede to the arrangement that would be defence-led. A concept of Central Coordination Authority, which would oversee the implementation of the pact, has been introduced.

The federal cabinet had last week approved the draft of the memorandum.

US Embassy spokesman Mark Stroh told Dawn that the US had been given the understanding that the MoU was in line with the parliamentary recommendations approved in April on new terms of engagement with the US/NATO.

He said the agreement was only about transportation of supplies with no preconditions.

Accordingly, the MoU that would govern the transit of US military supplies through Pakistani territory has provisions barring transportation of lethal equipment and inspection of the cargo.

However, shipment of weapons and ammunition consigned for the Afghan National Army has been allowed. Two routes, via Chaman and via Torkham, have been designated for transporting supplies in containers.

During the course of negotiations, Pakistan tried to introduce provisions for demurrages and charges for special services, but had to drop them because of US reluctance to pay any fee.

The US will now only be paying to its contractors, while the facility will be completely free of any charge on the part of Pakistan.

The arrangement has a mechanism for dispute resolution. All issues, it says, will be resolved through bilateral discussions without any third-party involvement.

Defence officials from both countries will regularly meet to discuss operational matters.

[VCheng]

from: Pakistan signs Nato convoy deal with US | DAWN.COM

Pakistan signs NATO convoy deal with US

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan on Tuesday signed an agreement with the United States on arrangements for NATO convoys supplying troops in Afghanistan.

Islamabad agreed to reopen NATO land routes to its war-torn neighbour earlier this month after closing them for seven months in protest at a botched US air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

The deal is part of efforts by the “war on terror” allies to patch up their fractious relationship which plunged into crisis last year over the air strike and the discovery of Osama bin Laden hiding in Pakistan.

Guidelines laid out by the Pakistani parliament earlier this year insisted that in future no lethal supplies be transported through the country, though Western officials say this never happened in the first place.

A Pakistani security official said the agreement gave Islamabad the right to refuse or reject any shipment and special radio chips would be fitted to all containers for monitoring.

Richard Hoagland, the most senior US diplomat currently in Pakistan, who signed the agreement on behalf of Washington, hailed it as a “demonstration of increased transparency and openness” between the two governments.

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from: http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=61407

ISLAMABAD: The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding restoration of NATO supplies has been signed between Pakistan and the United States on Tuesday, Geo News reported.

The MoU was signed by US Charge D'Affaires Richard Hoagland and Additional Secretary of Defense Ministry Rear Admiral Farrokh Ahmad in Rawalpindi. The Federal Cabinet had last week approved the draft of MoU.

The accord became operational after formal signing by the two countries. It will be effective till December 31, 2015 and could be extended for one year after consultations.

The draft which has been prepared according to the UN charter will not allow the transport of arms and ammunition into Afghanistan via Pakistan. However military equipment for the Afghan National Army will be allowed.

Transport of non-lethal cargo which includes food and medicine will be allowed in containers measuring 20 by 40 feet.

Two routes will be used by containers carrying NATO supplies. Containers on the southern route will travel to Afghanistan from Karachi (Bin Qasim Port) via Chaman. On the northern route, containers will travel from Karachi (Bin Qasim Port) via Torkham to Afghanistan.

The MoU further states that there will be no warehouses or storage facilities provided for American goods and no new no objection certificates (NOCs) will be required for the transit. Pakistan will also be allowed to stop the transit of goods which fall outside the parameters of the MoU.

Pakistan will also provide facilities for the security and quick transfer of the cargo and will keep the US government informed about the monitoring and transit points of the cargo. Containers travelling to Afghanistan will be bound to return via Pakistan.

There will be no tax or duty charged on the containers however commercial carriers will have to pay fees. New fees can also be introduced for the quick transfer of cargo.

Pakistan's Defence Ministry will act as a Central Coordination Authority and review the daily operations and implementation of the supply route.

Officials from both countries will meet once every two months to evaluate the implementation of the MoU. According to the draft, any misunderstanding will be cleared through mutual understanding and not a third party.

It is clearly written in the draft that commercial carriers will be responsible for any damage to the goods.

Both countries will also have to inform each other in writing if they want to discontinue the MoU.

[VCheng]

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Silence ..........................