Taleb​an tax: allie​d suppl​y convo​ys pay their​ enemi​es for safe passa​ge

[Mrs. Sharon B. Hodge]

Taleb​an tax: allie​d suppl​y convo​ys pay their​ enemi​es for safe passa​ge






NATO cash sponsoring Taliban

December 29, 2008 by RT

The British newspaper the Times has accused the ISAF, or NATO’s mission to Afghanistan, of indirectly helping the Taliban in Afghanistan.


After an investigation, the Times claims truckers operating the NATO supply convoys have been paying off the Taliban to stop them attacking. The paper says the situation has been going on for 14 months.


But the alleged bribes have not been totally effective. Earlier this month, Pakistani drivers went on strike because of the increased number of Taliban attacks.


“What we've seen is the dramatic deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan and especially in Kabul with regard to the Taliban advance and presence in the country. A year ago our last research showed that the Taliban has a permanent presence on 54% of Afghanistan. Now, this figure has risen to 72%,” said Emmanuel Reinert, Executive Director of the International Council on Security and Development (ICOS).


At the moment there are more than 70,000 international troops on the ground, and the US might send 20,000 more next year. But it takes tonnes of food and fuel every day to keep the ISAF mission going.


“We use two European-based companies to supply food and fuel, though it is not prudent for us to name them. They provide their own security as part of the contract. Such companies are free to subcontract to whomsoever they wish,” said NATO spokesman, Lieutenant-Commander James Gater.


Other than flying in supplies, the only overland route is through Pakistan and Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan.


The Times's sources estimate the cost of security for every truck on roads south of Kabul is about $US 1,000, and reportedly up to 25 per cent of that could go to the local militia. With a typical allied convoy consisting of from 40 to 100 vehicles, the Taliban appear to have a steady revenue stream.


Solving the problem of Afghanistan will be anything but fast and easy. It will take years of hard work, humanitarian aid and winning over the locals before peace can be restored to the troubled land.


LINK:
http://www. russiatoday. com/news/news/35383

VIDEO LINK:
http://www. russiatoday. com/news/news/35383/video



Article #2:
Taleban tax: allied supply convoys pay their enemies for safe passage

December 12, 2008.
by Tom Coghlan

The West is indirectly funding the insurgency in Afghanistan thanks to a system of payoffs to Taleban commanders who charge protection money to allow convoys of military supplies to reach Nato bases in the south of the country.


Contracts to supply British bases and those of other Western forces with fuel, supplies and equipment are held by multinational companies.


However, the business of moving supplies from the Pakistani port of Karachi to British, US and other military contingents in the country is largely subcontracted to local trucking companies. These must run the gauntlet of the increasingly dangerous roads south of Kabul in convoys protected by hired gunmen from Afghan security companies.


The Times has learnt that it is in the outsourcing of convoys that payoffs amounting to millions of pounds, including money from British taxpayers, are given to the Taleban.



The controversial payments were confirmed by several fuel importers, trucking and security company owners. None wanted to be identified because of the risk to their business and their lives. “We estimate that approximately 25 per cent of the money we pay for security to get the fuel in goes into the pockets of the Taleban,” said one fuel importer.


Another boss, whose company is subcontracted to supply to Western military bases, said that as much as a quarter of the value of a lorry's cargo went in paying Taleban commanders.


The scale of the supplies needed to keep the Nato military operation going is vast. The main British base at Camp Bastion in Helmand province alone requires more than a million litres of diesel and aviation fuel a week. There are more than 70,000 foreign soldiers in the country for whom food and equipment must be imported, mostly by road. The US is planning to send at least 20,000 more troops into Afghanistan next year.


Other than flying in supplies, the only overland route is through Pakistan and Taleban-controlled areas of Afghanistan.


A security company owner explained that a vast array of security companies competed for the trade along the main route south of Kabul, some of it commercial traffic and some supplying Western bases, usually charging about $1,000 (£665) a lorry. Convoys are typically of 40-50 lorries but sometimes up to 100.


Asked whether his company paid money to Taleban commanders not to attack them, he said: “Everyone is hungry, everyone needs to eat. They are attacking the convoys because they have no jobs. They easily take money not to attack.” He said that until about 14 months ago, security companies had been able to protect convoys without paying. But since then, the attacks had become too severe not to pay groups controlling the route. Attacks on the Kandahar road have been an almost daily occurrence this year. On June 24 a 50-truck convoy of supplies was destroyed. Seven drivers were beheaded by the roadside. The situation now was so extreme that a rival company, working south of the city of Ghazni, had Taleban fighters to escort their convoys.


“I won't name the company, but they are from the Panjshir Valley [in north Afghanistan]. But they have a very good relation with the Taleban. The Taleban come and move with the convoy. They sit in the front vehicle of the convoy to ensure security,” said the company chief.


The Taleban are not the only ones making money from the trade; warlords, thieves, policemen and government officials are also taking a cut.


A transport company owner who runs convoys south on the notoriously dangerous Kabul to Kandahar highway said: “We pay taxes to both thieves and the Taleban to get our trucks through Ghazni province and there are several ways of paying. This goes to a very high level in the Afghan Government.


“Mostly the [Afghan] security companies have middlemen to negotiate the passage of the convoys, so they don't get attacked. They pay on a convoy by convoy basis to let the convoy pass at a certain time. They have to pay each of the Taleban commanders who control each part of the road. When you hear of an attack it is usually because a new small [Taleban] group has arrived on the road.
”

Lieutenant-Commander James Gater, a spokesman for Nato forces in Afghanistan, said that the transport of Nato supplies was contracted to commercial firms and how they got them into the country was their business.


“I can confirm that we use two European-headquartered companies to supply food and fuel, though for contractual reasons it is not prudent for us to name them. They provide their own security as part of that contract. Such companies are free to subcontract to whomsoever they wish.


“We are aware they do prefer to subcontract from the countries in which they are operating. In Pakistan they prefer to use Pakistani trucking companies, in Afghanistan they prefer Afghan trucking companies. That is a commercial decision for them.
”

A representative for the Swiss-based Supreme Global Solutions confirmed that the company held supply contracts with the military in Afghanistan.


However, last night the company denied paying protection money. “We categorically reject any suggestion that we now, or have ever, paid money to any individual for the safe passage of our convoys. Furthermore, we do not permit our subcontractors to do so on our behalf,” it said.



LINK:
http://www. timesonline. co. uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5327683....