ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has linked transit of United States military cargo at the time of withdrawal from Afghanistan with certification that Washington would not move any hazardous waste material and uranium ammunition through its land.
The decision reinforces Islamabad’s policy of barring transportation of lethal goods by the US forces through land route at the time of withdrawal from Afghanistan, expected to start from next year.
The federal government took the decision on the basis of recommendations given by Inter-Ministerial Commission having representation of Nuclear Regulatory Authority as well. The government has notified changes in Customs General Order (CGO) of 2012 that governs the supplies to the Nato and the US forces fighting in Afghanistan.
According to the Customs General Order, Pakistan has allowed the US military cargo and non-containerised equipment to enter its territory at Torkham and Chaman borders.
It adds, at the time of entry the US will produce a certificate that the equipment is free of hazardous waste material, including depleted uranium ammunition as defined and classified in Basel Convention on the control of Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal.
Pakistan said that US will by no means be allowed to transit lethal weapons and heavy military equipment through land routes.
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