Pakistan’s foreign minister says it’s time reopen Nato supply route

Pakistan’s foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar said the government had made its point clear by closing the route for nearly six months but it was now time for the country to reopen its Afghan border to Nato troop supplies.

The border had been closed in retaliation for US airstrikes which had killed 24 Pakistani soldiers but reopening after Washington’s refusal to apologise for the attack in 2011 could receive criticism in Pakistan.

However, reopening its border to the Nato could ensure Pakistan a role in Afghanistan’s future following a major conference starting on Sunday in Chicago in preparation to retool its strategy in Afghanistan.

Since the country is seen as a key to striking a peace deal with the Taliban and their allies in Afghanistan, the US-led coalition could benefit from Pakistan’s presence allowing foreign troops to withdraw without the nation falling into further chaos.

Petroleum Ministry officials contacted a senior official in Pakistan’s Petroleum Tanker Owners Association yesterday to say that the Nato supply route is likely to be reopened by Wednesday evening but negotiations between the US and Pakistan were still ongoing.