The US has said it will not transfer any of its USD 7 billion excess defense equipment in Afghanistan to Pakistan or any other neighbouring country after its withdrawal from the war-torn nation.
"We note we have not and do not intend to transfer EDA from Afghanistan to any of its neighbouring countries, including Pakistan," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said.
The US, however, is considering the Pakistan's request for EDA (excess defense articles) sourced from the worldwide available EDA pool.
"The US is currently reviewing Pakistan's request for EDA sourced from the worldwide available EDA pool.
"The US has not refused Pakistan's request regarding EDA sourced from the world wide pool (to include any request that might involve MRAPs). The US continues to assist Pakistan through many security cooperation programs to build partnership capacity, including through the provision of worldwide available EDA," she said.
Harf said military equipment that has been determined to be excess can be made available through the worldwide EDA program, which is open to all eligible countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Noting that EDA may come from many places around the world where the designated Department of Defense implementing agency has excess equipment, she said much of this equipment is currently at depots in the continental United States.
"All EDA is provided as is, where is - meaning recipient countries are responsible for the transportation and any needed refurbishment costs for all EDA transfers," she said.
"US military equipment leaving overland from Afghanistan through Pakistan or via the Northern Distribution Network is part of the overall process of removing equipment as our forces draw down in Afghanistan.
"We have not and do not intend to transfer this equipment to the governments neighbouring Afghanistan," Harf asserted.
The US decisions on worldwide EDA transfers involve a thorough and deliberate review that considers the needs of potential recipients, their mutual national security needs, the ability of the recipient to sustain the equipment, and other factors.
"The State Department works with the Department of Defense to identify recipients for excess defense articles. The State Department retains final statutory approval and reviews each EDA request carefully," she said.
