Military equipment held up in Kandahar

OTTAWA (The Canadian Press) — Nearly 400 shipping containers full of Canadian military supplies remain stuck in Kandahar more than a year after Canada’s withdrawal from the war-torn province was declared complete, federal documents show.

National Defence says the material is considered low priority and that all high-value and sensitive equipment has been returned to Canada.

But the delay, brought on by the extended closure of the Afghan border with Pakistan, has turned into a long, costly logistics nightmare for the military, which was counting on having everything home and in good order to fully reequip and refurbish the army.

“All of it still has residual value that in cost and time terms means it’s worth hanging on to,” said Lt.Gen. Stuart Beare, the commander of the country’s foreign and domestic operations.

Beare said the absence of the material — including tires, spare parts, tents and other gear — does not directly impede the army’s regeneration.

Documents obtained under access to information laws show the Canadian government has faced increased withdrawal costs because the containers still have to be stored and guarded at yards adjacent to Kandahar Airfield.

“The ongoing closure of the Pakistan border continues to represent a significant cost to the (Canadian Forces) in the form of shortage and potential increased transit costs” for the remaining containers, said a May 17, 2012 briefing.

When the Pakistan border clapped shut, only 186 of the estimated 632 containers destined for overland transport had made it back to Canada.

Of those, a significant number were pilfered.