NATO urges Pakistan to open transit supply routes

Brussels: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Thursday urged Pakistan to open the transit supply routes for the coalition forces in Afghanistan. “And when it comes to our relationship with Pakistan, my main point is to stress that we need a positive engagement of Pakistan if we are to ensure long-term peace and stability not only in Afghanistan but in the region,” Rasmussen said at a press conference. [caption id=“attachment_282091” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Trucks carrying supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan are parked at Pakistan’s Torkham border crossing after Pakistani authorities shut NATO’s supply route on 28 November 2011. A Majeed/AFP”] [/caption] The NATO chief noted that “We have two problems in our relationship with Pakistan. The first is a very immediate challenge to see the transit routes through Pakistan reopened,” the EuAsiaNews reported. “It is of course an essential element in our operation in Afghanistan that we can cooperate with Pakistan when it comes to transit. So we hope to see these transit routes reopened as soon as possible,” he said after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers with non-NATO countries contributing troops to International Security Assistance Force. Last November, Pakistan closed the NATO supply routes into Afghanistan after NATO forces attacked two military outposts killing 25 Pakistani soldiers. IANS