US State Dept okays sale of IED-resistant vehicles worth $198m to Pakistan
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WASHINGTON: The US State Department has approved the sale of 160 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, spare and repair parts to Pakistan for an estimated cost of $198 million, said a press release issued by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency on Friday.
The state department's nod comes as Pakistan is engaged in Operation Zarb-i-Azb, a full-blown military offensive in the northwestern tribal region of North Waziristan, and has also begun action against insurgents in Khyber Agency.
According to the release, the government of Pakistan had requested to purchase 160 Navistar MRAP vehicles, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and equipment training, US government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency of the US has delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the possible sale, whose principal contractor will be Navistar Defence Corporation in Madison Heights, Michigan.
The US says there will be no adverse impact on its own defence readiness as a result of this sale, nor will the basic military balance in the region be affected. Instead, the sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States “by helping to improve the security of a country vital of US foreign policy and national security goals in South Asia”.
There are also no known offset agreements proposed in the connection with this potential sale, the press release stated.
The US government will be required to send two government and 24 contractor representatives to Pakistan for a period of approximately 18 months to perform inspections, provide assistance, conduct training and maintain accountability of the provided material.
Reports of Pakistan’s likelihood of receiving MRAP vehicles began to surface in March this year with the idea regarded as part of an effort by the Pentagon to unload excess military supplies to US allies.
Pakistani and American officials have been in discussions on the issue over several months and the latest nod from the US comes as the war in Afghanistan is winding down.
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Comments (77) Closed
Sep 20, 2014 10:38am
160 vehicles for $198 million. Are we mad or what?? It would have cost the Americans more money to ship these monsters back to the US.
We don't need these monsters. What we need is education, education and education.
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Sep 20, 2014 11:03am
Sellers, army and extremists combine to create conditions for doling out substantial budget on purchase of military hardware. This helps incomes and employment go up in seller countries and keep HDI in buyer country down and the region permanently on the boil.
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Sep 20, 2014 11:08am
It is a huge amount to be diverted but as Pakistan is the leader of Ummah and holder of only Muslim Atom bomb I am sure their need is justified. These equipment will also come handy to create a forced strategic depth, when required, in Afghanistan and protect good talibans. Above every thing else, deter India of any misadventures. People of Pakistan will surely sacrifice for such vital requirement of their only true defenders.
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Sep 20, 2014 11:13am
Can we build KBD to save our people and country? No !
Can we build Iran-Pak Pipeline for the progress of our people, country and regional harmony? Absolutely No !!
Now take our junk. Give us $198. Use it to protect our mercenaries giving up their lives for us. Yes! Yess !! Yesss !!!
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Sep 20, 2014 11:18am
Looks badass
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Sep 20, 2014 11:52am
question is, where is that white elephant HIT-Wah? What has been it's achievements in this regard so far and why couldn't it have come up with something better than welding steel plates on the sides of a pickup truck?
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Sep 20, 2014 12:01pm
Just take it and shut up!
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Sep 20, 2014 12:10pm
now of what use?????????????//taliban out..doesnt make sense
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Sep 20, 2014 12:20pm
@El Cid Why don't you ask your TTP friends to stop killing - civilians and soldiers - so Pak. can spend money and time on unemployment; education; health - polio drive etc. Soldiers need these monsters - they put their lives in the line of fire - sitting comfortable in your room and ranting is not enough. It is good move between USA AND Pak. to engage in cooperation; consultation; coordination and fruitful co-existence. Do you have phone number Mullah radio - send him message of peace and ask him to surrender - so tax payers money will not be used to buy these monster machines. Rants not enough!
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Sep 20, 2014 12:29pm
Anything that help to wipeout Talibans is good for Pakistan.
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Sep 20, 2014 12:40pm
@VINOD
Also good for running over a stinky internet warrior.
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Sep 20, 2014 12:46pm
There was an earlier news circulating about Pakistan getting MRAPs from US, but it was refuted. Sounds like it had some truth in it. It is going to be a good addition into Pakistan Army's arsenal.
And people, please, we need to stop criticizing our Army. Your borders are secure because of them, any place where order is needed, Army is called, any natural disaster whether it be floods or earthquakes, Army is called. Any national calamity we face, we rush to our Army to help us. And yes, today's world is advancing and our Army is a professional force. They need state of the art equipment to cope up with the world's swiftly advancing technology.
People here raising the white flag of education and whatnot, that is not the responsibility of Army. It's the responsibility of our civilian institutions, our civilian representative who are sitting in the Parliament, demand education and civilian reforms from THEM, not Army.
Army's job is to ensure you get a calm sleep instead of being run over by external and internal threats.
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Sep 20, 2014 12:51pm
Wow !Each of these toys(IED resistant vehicles) is Worth 1.25 Million Dollars.
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Sep 20, 2014 12:53pm
We have approved millions of dollars as as aid this is the best way to get it back
Secondly indian PM will be in america later this month ao may be there will be another order they get for these beasts from indian side
So aid to pak recovered half from pak itself n another half from india plus a bonus some us officials will remain in pak.
This is how us plays big games using tiny foolish strategic partners.
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Sep 20, 2014 01:19pm
@ Burki Regarding achievements of HIT Wahh, Burraq MRAP is under development and is in final stages. Some prototypes have already been produced & are in testing phase. Please do not always underestimate your national institutions.
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Sep 20, 2014 01:30pm
We need education, health and electricity - new dams... last thing we need is this load of crap!
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Sep 20, 2014 01:30pm
How much? Are they gold plated? What about the millions in our county without even the basics?
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Sep 20, 2014 01:41pm
Pakistan already builds its own armoured personnel carriers, do we really need to buy 160? we need a small amount and then copy the design into our own vehicles. That way the money stays in Pakistan, instead of the pockets of foreigners.
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Sep 20, 2014 01:42pm
Excellent new !! Majority of our casualities were with IEDs. Marps will ensure safe transporation of soldiers. Transaction will be funded by american military support fund. So we get them for free. 198 million dollars price tag is for namesakes.
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Sep 20, 2014 01:59pm
@Ashok R.Prabhu 1.25 million dollar a vehicle worse for Pakistan as the depreciated cost of vehicles has not been considered at all. According to wikipedia it cost US Army $500,000 per vehicle. A profit of $750,000 per vehicle goes where.
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Sep 20, 2014 02:01pm
@VINOD - Do you ever scorn India for spending billions on arms?
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Sep 20, 2014 02:11pm
@Farrukh Munir - Land mines are a menace. Kills and amputates many. So, good for any army to have these MRAPs.
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Sep 20, 2014 02:17pm
@Farrukh Munir "What we need is education, education and education"
Please educate yourself first. These vehicles are specialist vehicles and saves lives. These are highly robust vehicles equipped with advanced electronics like IED jammers and thermal imaginary equipment to identify explosive devices even at night time. At present Pak Army doesn't have an equipment like this.
Compare the shape of Toyota Pickup with MRAP which is armour plated with wedge shaped belly to reduce explosive effect. Study little more and you will find that even individual seats are designed to absorb a shock.
If politicians are importing bullet-proof vehicles to protect themselves, whats wrong saving our own soldiers who belong to humble background and are bread earners for their big families.
Apart from the Army on the Western border, KPK Police also needs these vehicles.
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Sep 20, 2014 02:49pm
We need these Trucks . Pak Afghan border will be sealed in coming years . For constant surveillance we need protective devices .
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Sep 20, 2014 02:49pm
These will help our Forces.
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Sep 20, 2014 02:52pm
We need education, dams canals and factories not US military junk for $198 million particularly inspite of that junk they had to leave Afghanistan. I understand somebody will make good millions via this deal.
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Sep 20, 2014 03:05pm
@VINOD Wow.. You're an intelligent chap aren't you?! May be you should become an advisor to Modi on strategic warfare. People like you will certainly help bring peace and harmony in the region.... NOT!
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Sep 20, 2014 03:08pm
Pak army virtually needed these gadgets,the soldiers are currently facing the headache of IEDs.most of our soldiers are martyred because of IEDs
dear farrukh your rhetoric word are utterly true but in the current situation one cant give real teachings of Islam or enlighted these barbaric inhuman so called ''Talibans'' with blessing of education.
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Sep 20, 2014 03:08pm
198 million is a lot of money for Pakistan, we can't afford it.
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Sep 20, 2014 03:19pm
This is called being a practical ally.
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Sep 20, 2014 03:21pm
@A shah I love how everyone is an expert on military hardware all of a sudden! How do you know it's not worth that much? What are you bench marking against? It's not a Suzuki alto! Lol
Fact of the matter is that many areas in FATA are infested with mines which gives Taliban a strategic advantage (as the cowards cannot fight anyone face to face). If buying this equipment helps Pak Army neutralise that advantage then I'm all for it. I also read recently that Pak Army is digging a trench along the Afghan border which is also a good move.
Zarb e Azb alone won't do the job, for sustainability these actions are absolutely necessary. I've not been a great fan of our army however in this instance they have done a fantastic job, in clearing militancy from FATA, forcing Punjabi Taliban to surrender and now taking steps to ensure we are well equipped to sustain peace.
So stop moaning people (from the comfort of your sofas whilst soldiers are sacrificing their lives for your security) and learn to appreciate!
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Sep 20, 2014 03:28pm
These vehicles are not worth one and quarter million dollars each (nearly). There must be a huge 'kickback' for someone!!
We Should refuse this deal!!
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Sep 20, 2014 03:38pm
When Pak is asking bread his people, US rather then helping people... is making money out of people money. Great Pak leaders nd awam. Thanks We Have Modi.. "Make in India"
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Sep 20, 2014 03:41pm
So you're gonna throw books at your enemies and poke them in their eye with a number #2 pencil??? Country is in a state of war. Lives of army are just as precious as yours and army is doing the right thing. You can do 2 things at the same time
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Sep 20, 2014 03:47pm
Only 160.......but we have far more VVIP's than that.
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Sep 20, 2014 04:01pm
Cost of a single MRAP vehicle is between $0.5 mil to $1mil. Cost per vehicle for US to ship them back is estimated to be $50,000 each. Price Pakistan is paying comes to around $1.24 mil per vehicle. This agreement includes spare parts, documentation, training, technical/logistical support etc. I would say its not too bad a deal if they are the latest version considering Pakistani paramilitary forces are at the frontlines against TTP and other such scum. You can't put a price on life.
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Sep 20, 2014 04:25pm
These vehicles are being supplied free of cost. They will protect troops in NWA and FATA from IEDs and other direct fire weapons including RPGs. Presently Pakistani troops are most vulnerable while traveling in these areas in their thin skinned trucks and jeeps. There seems no logic behind the negative comments, except some false flag names and some conspiracy theorists trying to find negative in everything.
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Sep 20, 2014 04:27pm
@asif they are being supplied free. The dollar value is their cost to USA
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Sep 20, 2014 04:46pm
I think, these MRAPs are not used ones from Afghanistan. These are brand new vehicles to be shipped out from USA. One would though like to know, what happened to plans of USA giving away some of her weaponary from Afghanistan.
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Sep 20, 2014 04:47pm
@Farrukh Munir
Then you go and fight bare footed in Wazirastan which is mined to neck.
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Sep 20, 2014 04:51pm
We want this money to be spent on education, health and industry.
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Sep 20, 2014 04:54pm
We need at least 500 more of them if we go by our needs for protecting us from inflitrations in Wazirastan and Balochistan. We are not paying anything as the amount will be deducted from the funds/aid USA provides for supporting military engagement in Wazirastan.
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Sep 20, 2014 05:20pm
America is also a friend now.
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Sep 20, 2014 05:47pm
These will be delivered some times in future, we need these now. Someone is getting a share to buy at over million dollars each, as the americans have these in Afghanistan, and the can be handed at fraction of the cost.
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Sep 20, 2014 05:57pm
@ahmedj. Thank you for educating me and telling me what the difference is between a Toyota Pickup Truck and this wonderful invention.
I have nothing against the army getting these or any other toy they need for the job. It's simply the price tag and the way we have bought this American junk. HIT can, and is, making such vehicles and if we had to buy these then there are lots of other manufacturers in the world who could provide us with what we needed at a decent price. If anyone tells me that this vehicle at around $1.25 Million Is a good but then sorry I can't get to educate myself.
As far as the politicians buying bullet proof vehicles is concerned, I don't think any of us is in favour of that. My point still is that what we need at the moment more than anything else is EDUCATION.
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Sep 20, 2014 06:41pm
these vehicles should be used against PTV attackers and criminal dharna goers to protect Pakistan from the menace of dharna. Ameen.
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Sep 20, 2014 06:46pm
@A Pakistani : You are right, first create a problem then TRY to show solving it. Taliban problem created by military, Kashmir problem, they don't want solution. Go figure it out
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Sep 20, 2014 06:48pm
All these conflicts and wars are great business opportunities and projects for the US. The arms industry is doing great over there.
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Sep 20, 2014 06:48pm
@Farrukh Munir I whole heartedly agree with your perspective but education requires interest in uplifting the nation, establishing goals, planning and setting the wheels in motion before funds were needed to implement them and the civilian government and Pakistani democracy does not have the time to do that - they are focused on projects that make them more wealthy.
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Sep 20, 2014 06:50pm
@Akram : "...... in the pocket of the foreigners" and our Generals.
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Sep 20, 2014 06:52pm
People, we need to stop criticizing our Army. Your borders are secure because of them, any place where order is needed, Army is called, any natural disaster whether it be floods or earthquakes, Army is called. Any national calamity we face, we rush to our Army to help us. And yes, today's world is advancing and our Army is a professional force. They need state of the art equipment to cope up with the world's swiftly advancing technology.
People here raising the white flag of education and whatnot, that is not the responsibility of Army. It's the responsibility of our civilian institutions, our civilian representative who are sitting in the Parliament, demand education and civilian reforms from THEM, not Army.
Army's job is to ensure you get a calm sleep instead of being run over by external and internal threats.
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Sep 20, 2014 06:53pm
@Ramzan Ali
Thanks for bringing in the logic
Yes we need to safeguard our soldiers in this area.
Good deal and I hope this serves the purpose Insha' Allah
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Sep 20, 2014 06:58pm
@Parvez : Are you talking about the Generals, no we have more than 160, round about 200+. LOL
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Sep 20, 2014 07:06pm
US is getting rid of their second hand equipment in Afghanistan. Instead of taking them back to US costing them fortune, they are either getting rid or srapping them as surplus metal to the higest bidder. I doubt very much they will sell high tech equipment to pakistan unless it is in their own personal interest.
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Sep 20, 2014 07:10pm
@Farrukh Munir You are naïve to think that 198 millions is the cost of vehicles. Are you forgetting the share of our generals? What would education do to Pakistanis? Just look at the "educated" crowed gathered by IK in Islamabad. Need I say more?
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Sep 20, 2014 07:14pm
@Shan And you think these vehicles will do the job? You must be kidding or are living in a dream world my friend.
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Sep 20, 2014 07:18pm
@A Pakistani Is Pakistan today is so peaceful and flourishing democracy because of the Army? Which Pakistan are we talking about my friend?
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Sep 20, 2014 07:23pm
@Harmony India today is much more peaceful than is Pakistan. Besides, we should not do silly things just because India does it.
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Sep 20, 2014 07:25pm
US is selling these vehicles left over from Iraq. In Pakistan we do nit need them. They do not work and money can and shoukd be used to educate children. Please Please Please do not buy these vehicles. Just weld 1/4 inch sheet under the vehicles you need to protect.
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Sep 20, 2014 07:26pm
why this purchase was not taken during joint session of parliament ..huge amount of money to be diverted...
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Sep 20, 2014 07:30pm
Not a bad deal actually
The world must realize that the only way to have sustainable peace in the region is to have a strong Pak Army
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Sep 20, 2014 07:32pm
@Farrukh Munir education can only take place in a peaceful and secure environment for which you need a strong army that can eliminate those who burn down the places for education
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Sep 20, 2014 07:34pm
@Pakistani Yes, people do not realize the importance of this equipment. They will see as soon as these vehicles arrive, there will not be any trace of Taleban left in Pakistan !! The lack of availability of these vehicles is the only thing that is preventing the Army from whipping out the Taleban. By the way, remember how the Seals came into Pakistan to take care of Osama? The Seals were sneaky and I do not blame the Army because no one woke up our generals.
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Sep 20, 2014 08:44pm
excellent deal must take advantage to protect our brave men and women in uniform fighting to keep us safe
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Sep 20, 2014 08:55pm
@Farrukh Munir
Will education save the lives of our officers and men exposed to IED's? No it won't. There is a place for popular rhetoric and a place for logic. Lets use logic on this one.
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Sep 20, 2014 09:30pm
@ahmedj Americans were able to build these vehicles because of their knowledge that comes with education.Our ignorance push us to create situations that force us to buy these destructive assets of no use.
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Sep 20, 2014 10:02pm
Well, Pakistanis hate Americans but wont leave a chance to get their weapons, be it second hand purchase of F-16s from Jordan or MRAPs now.
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Sep 20, 2014 10:04pm
Pakistan could have got these vehicles cheaply from China, right?
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Sep 21, 2014 12:10am
@Shan You mean the bad talibans.
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Sep 21, 2014 12:13am
@Mamoon Lodhi So these vehicles are being purchased to overcome the technological deficiency in HIT built ones?
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Sep 21, 2014 12:15am
@A shah Their emasculated bodies need protection from Indian monsters, I guess. They they need to ensure that the Pakistan army is fully fed and ready.
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Sep 21, 2014 02:16am
Americans are very clever. They wouldn't have offered these MRAP to Pakistan had they been able to take them back to US. It costs US much more than to bring them back. If not PAK they would have sold them to India.
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Sep 21, 2014 03:24am
@Shan Naïve, Hah one will be standing at CM, PM and Zardari's houses.
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Sep 22, 2014 07:17am
Those who criticize the Army for obtaining these vehicles should do one thing first. They should talk to a Pakistani soldier who will be riding up and down the trails and roads, guarding the border for the next several years. He is risking his life to protect you. Ask him if he would rather travel in a jeep or a pickup truck, or in one of these new vehicles. Before you comment here, ask him first.
About "education" ... Families can move forward on education when no one reads another headline about a school being torched (or a religious place, or market, or cemetery). To achieve education, the nation needs something it has not enjoyed for years: a stable peace.
Also the funding might well be coming from aid from USA or elsewhere, as some readers have already noted.
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Sep 22, 2014 09:21am
@Akram Exactly just buy three vehicles and the rest leave it to POF. We are very much capable of developing any required weaponry system or supporting vehicle.
Just imagine Pak Rupees 19,800,000,000.00 if we convert the USD $ @ Rs. 100.00 x $ 198,000,000.00 (approx) how many hospitals and schools can be made out of this huge amount being wasted on their left overs simply because of their heavy, heavy transportation costs !
Will they off set these funds from our any loaned amount or first give us the loan, put interest on it and then take it back? Dual revenue generation tactics (1) Sale of leftover machinery and (2) funding for the same with interest applied.
hahahhahahhahahhahahhaha ! Joke.
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Sep 22, 2014 10:11am
To be used by politicians for visiting tribal and other sensitive areas?
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Sep 22, 2014 01:20pm
@Lodhi,
wrong! HIT has been touting Burraq for the past many years, 5-6 years at least and is still nowhere near serial production. And now the word is that Burraq is being quietly shelved.We've been facing this war on our northern fronts for almost a decade now and so far HIT has not been able to give us anything besides welding steel plates on the sides of a Toyata pickup.
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