NATO Trucks

Pakistan has still not lifted its blockade of roads in convoys of NATO, decided in November 2011 in retaliation for an American blunder. The trucks take other routes, longer and more risky. Report.

This is probably at the top of the Hindu Kush, on one of the few alternate routes to access from the north to Kabul and the rest of the country, that we see the better the effect of roadblocks Pakistani trucks to Nato declared by Islamabad [since November 2011].

On nearly 30 miles north and south of the Salang Tunnel [in Afghanistan], thousands of trucks are fixed along the road and wait their turn to cross approximately 2.5 kilometers of road particularly dangerous.This passage is the only passable road for trucks to resupply NATO now passing through the Central Asian republics. There are many other ways, but they are often reduced to simple unpaved roads through mountain passes even more conducive to high and often attacks of insurgents or bandits.

Designed to pass a thousand vehicles per day, the tunnel - which already hosted the 2000 boycott by Pakistan in November - must now pass almost 10,000 daily, alternating from one day to another the direction of flow. "There will be a disaster, it's only a matter of time, recognizes General Mohammed Rajab, head of tunnel maintenance. A disaster is inevitable and when it happens, it will not only devastating for Afghanistan but for the entire international community that uses this road. "

Today, trucks resupply of NATO represent 90% of the traffic of this tunnel. Located about 3600 meters above sea level, it was built in 1964 by the Soviets, it measures only 6 feet wide at its base and tapering. Heavyweight routinely block the passage trying to cross, loading does not always passing the rounded corners of the ceiling. They then have to tow with heavy equipment. Others remain trapped when their drivers underestimate the height of their vehicle. The tunnel is 4.8 m tall but only in the middle. "It's a nightmare," admits a truck driver. Tunnel lighting is not working, neither are the cameras used to identify any incident. There are water leaks in the ceiling and most fans are useless.

In late May, a tanker overturned NATO at the southern entrance of the tunnel, leaving his cargo escaped from its tank breakthrough on the winding road. With increased traffic and deteriorating roads, the route between Kabul and Hairatan, freight depot and fuel located on the northern border with Uzbekistan, now takes between eight and ten days instead of one day previously explained many truck drivers. By car, the trip took two days now. 


"Yesterday I slept there, Sayid Ali says, pointing behind the last corner about a mile. Tonight I probably sleep here." It took five days to about 40 km. Mohammadullad, truck driver for NATO, has been gone for eight days and it is still not reached the tunnel. He explained that drivers often end up running out of food and have to pay exorbitant prices for supplies from vendors that go up the supply. He estimates the round trip would take him nearly a month. "I would rather be on the road to Kandahar, he said. There, the trucks must be accompanied by armed guards because of the risk of ambush, but it is preferable to those hours of waiting," says it.

Routes starting from Pakistani ports like Karachi, much better and much faster, were banned trucks from NATO in protest against the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers at a U.S. air strike. Pakistan has expressed its intention to reopen the border crossing but will now cost $ 1 000 [EUR 800] per truck, against $ 250 [€ 200] before. "We're not going to extort money," said Minister of Defense, Leon Panetta, on ABC.

The Salang tunnel, which was never completely finished (missing a lining on the walls and a backup tunnel), has a tragic history: 900 people, Russians and Afghans, it would have perished in 1982 following an accident or explosion during the transition from a military convoy. [The American weekly Time speaks to the time of 2700 victims, the Russian authorities with fewer than 200.] Two years ago, an avalanche at the southern entrance of the tunnel was at least 64 people (the people been buried in their vehicle). 


The only other crossing point can be located in the west, on the neck of Shibar says General Rajab.This route is a detour of three days, which may already be better than the Salang Tunnel. However, it should improve safety: trucks that was recently passed by this route were attacked and looted.