Islamabad: Pakistan's foreign minister says the country "has made its point" by blocking Nato's supply line to Afghanistan in protest over a deadly American attack on its troops, and now must try to rebuild relations with the West.
The remarks by Hina Rabbani Khar came as negotiators from Pakistan and the United States are holding intense talks to get Islamabad to reopen the key route.
The comments suggest a possible thaw in relations between the two countries ahead of a Nato summit in Chicago on May 20-21 that is largely focused on the Afghan war.
Pakistan will likely only receive an invitation if it ends its blockade of Nato supplies. A team of US negotiators has been in the country for several weeks working out the nuts and bolts of a potential agreement to reopen the supply line, said a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The Americans met with their Pakistani counterparts all day Sunday and were scheduled to resume discussions yesterday, the official said.
Pakistan closed its Afghan border crossings to the US-led coalition at the end of November, in retaliation for American air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at two small outposts in the north-west. The US expressed its condolences, but that wasn't enough for Pakistan.
Pakistan's government then threw the issue to parliament, which used the opportunity to try to renegotiate the country's relationship with the US, a popular move in a country where anti-American sentiment is rampant despite billions of dollars in annual US aid.
Apology demanded
Passing the gauntlet to parliament was likely meant to provide the government political cover, but the lawmakers' stark demands have made it more difficult for Pakistani officials to manoeuvre.
Parliament demanded an "unconditional apology" for the deaths of the Pakistani soldiers and an end to US drone strikes in the country. Although it did not explicitly link these issues to reopening the supply line, they have complicated matters since the US has refused both demands.
Analysts have speculated that the Obama administration is reluctant to apologise for the errant air strikes because of potential criticism from Congress and Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney. Anger at Pakistan is high in the US because of the country's alleged support for Islamist militants killing US troops in Afghanistan.
US officials have said in private they have no intention of stopping covert CIA drone strikes in Pakistan.