Pakistan, US inch closer for reopening of NATO supplies

By I Hussain

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and US negotiating teams, engaged in talks on restoration of NATO supply, have inched closer to conclusion, official sources said on Tuesday.

Sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that a Pakistani team was in Washington for talks on reopening supply to NATO in Afghanistan, while a visiting US team was engaged in talks with Pakistani officials in Islamabad. “Talks on the issue of reopening NATO routes between the US and Pakistan are moving forward,” Mark Stroh, the US embassy spokesman, told Daily Times.

Sources said that talks on NATO air strikes in Salala in November had almost concluded and it was guaranteed that such mishaps would never happen again. “The two sides agreed on a mechanism that would ensure non-occurrence of Salala-like incidents in the future.”

Sources said US officials had also agreed to seek an apology for the incident but they would wait for a proper time.

Sources in the Commerce Ministry said talks on charges for each NATO truck passing through Pakistan were also underway. Pakistan has demanded $5,000 per truck but US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has ruled out paying this amount “considering the financial challenges”.

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