Washington: The Obama administration on Tuesday said that Pakistan is reopening supply lines into Afghanistan after the U.S. issued an apology for the November killing of 24 Pakistani troops in a NATO airstrike.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says she told Pakistan’s foreign minister in a telephone conversation that the U.S. is “sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani military.” She says both sides acknowledged mistakes that resulted in deaths.
The incident badly damaged already strained relations between the two countries and forced the U.S. and its allies to send supplies via costlier northern routes into Afghanistan.
Clinton said Khar informed her the Pakistani-Afghan supply lines are opening. She said Pakistan won’t charge any transit fee, the subject of an earlier negotiation.
Earlier, Gen John Allen, the ISAF Commander in Afghanistan offered ‘personal apology’ to Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani over the Nato forces’ attack on Salala Check Post in November last year that killed two dozens Pakistani soldiers but Gen Kayani termed it as insufficient.
Update for the news:
Top United States military commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Allen, and US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta has applauded the move from Pakistan.
Panetta said that Pakistan and US are facing the similar threat of militancy in the region. He further said that US would continue its cooperation with Pakistan.
Sherry Rehman:
Pakistan ambassador to US Sherry Rehman said that the reopening of the supplies would help Pakistan, US to strengthen their ties.
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