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| MaxxPro MRAPs (Image: Wiki Commons) |
The U.S. military in Afghanistan said media reports that the U.S. has decided to hand over surplus armored vehicles and other military equipment to Pakistan are incorrect.
A statement issued Thursday the U.S. military "does not provide or intend to provide" any equipment from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
The American commander of international forces in Afghanistan, General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. said Thursday the U.S. has an "unwavering" commitment to the Afghan people and the Afghan National Security Forces.
However, in testimony earlier this month before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Dunford said the U.S. was considering donating some of its 1,200 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles known as MRAPs in Afghanistan to neighboring Pakistan.
He told the Senate committee the vehicles would be donated in "as is" condition and countries would have to pay to service and move the vehicles out of Afghanistan. He said the international forces were looking at ways to provide the MRAPs to partners, including "Afghanistan, Pakistan and other partners that have participated in operations with us."
The Washington Post reported earlier this month the Pentagon may give Pakistan some of the $7 billion worth of armored vehicles and other equipment it needs to dispose of now that the war in Afghanistan is ending.
The Post story said U.S. and Pakistani officials have been discussing the fate of the leftover military hardware that the U.S. does not want to pay to ship or fly home.
The U.S. military says over the last 12 years, the Afghan National Security Forces have received more than $53 billion in equipment and support, 160 aircraft, 100,000 vehicles, 500,000 weapons and 200,000 pieces of communications and night-vision equipment. It says more support is still being delivered.
This story first appeared on Voice of America & is reposted here with permission.