Islamabad: Pakistan and the US are negotiating
new terms of engagement for the reciprocal provision of
logistic support, supplies and services for the war on terror
that will replace an MoU signed during former military
ruler Pervez Musharraf`s regime, a media report on Thursday said.
The new terms of engagement will be under the US-Pakistan
Acquisition and Cross Services Agreement (ACSA), The News
daily quoted a draft of the agreement as saying.
The ACSA will supersede an earlier MoU signed on February
9, 2002 during Musharraf`s regime.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani recently said that his
government was carrying out a comprehensive review of
strategies related to key foreign policy issues, including the
US-led war on terror and the Kashmir dispute.
An unnamed member of the Federal Board of Revenue
confirmed to the daily the new draft agreement.
"The government of Pakistan is reviewing its earlier
agreement of Feb 2002 before its completion", the official
said.
The new agreement has nine articles, including purpose,
applicability, definitions, terms and conditions, waived and
excluded costs, security of information, revision of
information and entry into force and termination, according to
the draft agreement.
The draft states: "Upon entry into force, the new MoU
applies to all new orders for logistics support, supplies and
services.
"However, any financial obligations, transactions, orders
or requests for logistics support, supplies and services prior
to the effective date of new agreement under the authority of
the 2002 shall remain binding".
The purpose of the new draft agreement is to establish
basic terms, conditions and procedures to facilitate
reciprocal provision of logistic support, supplies and
services to be used for combined exercises, training,
deployments, port calls, operations or other cooperative
efforts and unforeseen circumstances or exigencies, the
document said.
The proposed draft agreement further says the provision of
services apply to military forces of one party to other in
return for either cash or reciprocal provision of same
services to the military forces of other party.
Under the new agreement, both Pakistan and the US will
appoint a "Point of Contact" an officer or agency that is
authorised to sign an order requesting or agreeing to supply
logistic support, supplies and services.
Reimbursement for logistic support, supplies and services
will be made either through payment by cash or by
replacement-in-kind or an equal-value exchange.
Meanwhile, The Express Tribune reported that the Pakistan
government is mulling a proposal to impose a permanent ban on
export of locally produced petroleum products, except jet
fuel, to NATO and allied forces in Afghanistan.
Export of jet fuel will be allowed if NATO agrees to pay
all applicable duties to Pakistan.
Pakistan has been exporting petroleum products to NATO
forces, exempted of all duties, since 2002.
The supplies were made through the US Defence Energy
Supply Company.
The Petroleum Ministry has moved a proposal to the
Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet, scheduled to
meet tomorrow, seeking a permanent ban on export of
locally-produced fuels, including petrol and diesel.
The ministry has proposed that export of other locally
produced products should be allowed if NATO forces pay
complete duties applicable in Pakistan.
Petroleum Secretary Ijaz Chaudhry confirmed that the
proposal had been moved because of a shortage of petroleum
products in the country.
PTI
