Khar feels NATO supply routes should be reopened

Khar made the remarks while speaking to reporters, who accompanied Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on an official visit to Britain, 'The Express Tribune' said today.

She said it is in Pakistan's interest to facilitate the international operation in Afghanistan and that there are many friendly countries whose supplies have been blocked.

NATO and ISAF supplies should not be seen in the context of Pakistan's relations with the US, Khar said.

NATO and ISAF are umbrella organisations for over 40 countries, including Pakistan's close friends like Turkey and Britain, she said.

Pakistan shut the supply routes to Afghanistan after a cross-border NATO air strike on November 26 last year killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

A joint session of Parliament recently adopted a resolution that demanded an unconditional apology from the US for the attack.

Islamabad's insistence on an apology has held up efforts to put Pakistan-US ties back on an even keel after a year of crises, including the NATO attack and the unilateral American raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Pakistan's participation in a crucial NATO Summit to be held in Chicago from May 20 too has been linked to the resetting of ties with the US.

Speaking at the end of Gilani's five-day visit to Britain, Khar, however, said Pakistan's decision to close the supply routes was the correct one.

In this regard, she recalled the NATO air strike and the American "incursion" to kill bin Laden.

Khar described the operation against the al-Qaeda chief as an effort by the US to take sole credit for finding bin Laden. (More)