Washington, September 10: The Pentagon has proposed the transfer of U.S. military equipment in Iraq to Pakistani security forces in Islamabad to help intensify its offensive against the Taliban, officials and government documents.
The Pentagon request to the authority of “the transfer of items no longer needed in Iraq,” Pakistan’s army received a cool reception in the U.S. Congress, where some questioned what safeguards would ensure that the arms not end up being diverted to Pakistan’s border with India, a nuclear armed power as Pakistan.
The inclusion of Mexico in the application, along with Iraq and Afghanistan, stressed the high priority that the Pentagon places on the release of material from the Pakistani army says it needs to mount ground operations in South Waziristan and other strongholds of the Taliban bordering Afghanistan.
But the retreat from Capitol Hill also showed deep skepticism in Congress about helping Pakistani security services that some still see as playing both sides in Washington’s war with the Taliban.
Besides the possibility of transfers from Iraq, the Pentagon is considering expanding the program in which Washington seeks equipment for Pakistani forces through governments or other, or rent them U.S. equipment in nominal rates, sources briefed on the discussions said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the inclusion of Pakistan in the proposal, first raised with key congressional committees in June.
Under the proposal, Defense Secretary Robert Gates would have the authority to “transfer both overstocking and no excess defense along with the defense services in connection with transfers,” the three governments. He already has some authority to transfer equipment deemed as “surplus”.
The Pentagon said in its request to Congress which team would be eligible for transfer U.S. forces gradually leave Iraq. The U.S. combat troops withdrew from the towns and villages in Iraq in June, and all U.S. forces is due out in late 2011.
Pentagon officials said a review is underway to determine what equipment could be left behind in Iraq and moved to the Allies. “The secretary believes that we must be more flexible, more sensitive, faster in our relationships with friends and allies around the world, particularly the military we’re trying to develop quickly,” said Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell .
–Agencies