Pakistan protests may make U.S. fly war cargo out

[unhappycamper]

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/12/pakistan-protests-may-make-us-fly-war-cargo-out



Pakistan protests may make U.S. fly war cargo out
By Lolita C. Baldor and Rebecca Santana
The Associated Press
© December 19, 2013

WASHINGTON

U.S. officials, frustrated that hundreds of military shipments heading out of Afghanistan have been stopped on the land route through Pakistan because of anti-American protests, face the possibility of flying out equipment at an additional cost of $1 billion.

More than a week after Pakistani officials promised Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that they would take "immediate action" to resolve the problem, dozens of protesters are still gathering on the busy overland route, posing a security threat to convoys carrying U.S. military equipment out of the war zone before combat ends a year from now.

U.S. officials said Wednesday they have seen no effort by the Pakistanis to stop the protests, which prompted the U.S. three weeks ago to halt NATO cargo shipments going through the Torkham border crossing and toward the port city of Karachi.

A Pakistani official says the government is looking for a peaceful settlement but notes that citizens have the right to protest as long as they are not violent.