Pak should reopen NATO supply lines: Khar

The US has been holding intense negotiations with Pakistan to get the country to reopen its border to supplies meant for NATO troops in Afghanistan, a US official said Monday, a day before senior Pakistani decision makers are set to discuss the issue.

In a climb-down from its previous stance, Pakistan on Monday said it was time to "move on" and mend relations with the US.

Pakistan's foreign minister said the country should open its Afghan border to NATO troop supplies, saying the government has made its point by closing the route for nearly six months in retaliation for deadly US airstrikes on its troops.

Hina Rabbani Khar's comments offered the clearest indication yet that Pakistan is ready to give in to US pressure to reopen the supply line, even though Washington has so far refused to apologise for last year's attack and end drone strikes in the country as demanded by Pakistan's parliament.

"It was important to make a point. Pakistan has made the point and we now need to move on and go into a positive zone of trying to conduct our relations," Khar said.

Khar's remarks assume significance as they came a day before a meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, Pakistan's highest decision-making body on security issues, that is expected to discuss the reopening of the supply routes and the country's participation in a NATO Summit in Chicago during May 20-21.

"As far as the question of an apology is concerned, parliament has categorically said that the government should seek an apology from the US. We have (sought) an apology from the US," she said. However, she did not specify whether the government would insist upon one.

Official sources said that President Asif Ali Zardari was not averse to participating in the NATO Summit if Pakistan and the US are able to agree on some sort of face-saving arrangement. Khar's remarks seemed to indicate that the government is preparing the grounds for reopening the supply routes, a key condition for participating in the NATO Summit.

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