Thursday, 5 July 2012

Reopening Nato supply routes

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar Wednesday said that Pakistan had not struck any 'secret deal' with United States to end a seven-month long Nato blockade.

Talking to a group of senior journalists, Khar defended the decision taken by Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) to reopen Nato supply routes, arguing that the government did not deviate from any parliamentary resolution.

During negotiations, she said Pakistan had conveyed to the US that it had to respect Pakistan's 'red lines'. She said Pakistan reopened Nato supply routes and also forced a superpower to show great flexibility in its stance by offering a formal apology.

She said the supply route could have been reopened much earlier but it was the US' stubbornness which delayed the process. Khar said that Pakistan wanted to make the US realise that "Pakistan is an independent and sovereign country and any kind of violation of the 'red lines' will not be tolerated."

The Foreign Minister sought to dispel impression that the government had struck any 'secret agreement' with the US in relation to Nato supply routes, adding the government had adopted a policy guided by the parliamentary recommendations to re-engage with the US, Nato and Isaf.

She further said it was the DCC, which had clamped a ban on Nato supply routes following Salala incident and the same forum took the decision reopen supply routes after the US belatedly issued an apology for the November killing of 24 Pakistani troops in a Nato strike.

She said that both civil and military leadership were engaged in the process of re-engagement with the US. She said that Isaf commander Gen Allan played a key role as he greatly appreciated sensitivity of the situation.

About drone attacks, Khar said Pakistan had repeatedly conveyed its stance to the US that these strikes were illegal, counterproductive and unacceptable. She, however, said that Pakistan would continue talks with the US over drone strikes.

About future relationship with the US, she said that ties between the two countries would be in line with parliament's recommendations.

The Cabinet on Wednesday endorsed the DCC decision to lift the seven-month Nato blockade.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office said that Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu and Foreign Minister of Germany Guido Westerwelle telephoned Foreign Minister Khar on Wednesday.

"The two Foreign Ministers welcomed the decision of the Government of Pakistan to reopen the Ground Lines of Communications through Pakistani territory to and from Afghanistan," said Foreign Office spokesman Moazam Ahmad Khan.

He said they noted that the decision would go a long way in achieving the shared objectives of peace and security in Afghanistan and the region. It would also facilitate the process of transition in Afghanistan, he added.

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