Kabul: Nato hopes for a quick reopening of blocked supply routes through Pakistan because the five-week closure is damaging the economies of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, an alliance officer said yesterday.
Pakistan shut the routes, which Nato uses to ship about 40 per cent of the supplies for its forces in landlocked Afghanistan, after alliance air strikes killed 24 Pakistani border troops in November.
The US expressed regret over the deaths. The incident drove US-Pakistani relations further into a tailspin, adding to Pakistani outrage over the US raid that killed Al Qaida founder Osama Bin Laden in May and drone strikes that have killed civilians, all without informing Pakistan in advance.
Pakistan is a key ally in the fight against militants in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Prominent Al Qaida and Afghan Taliban fighters have asked Pakistani militants to set aside differences and step up support for the battle against US-led forces in Afghanistan. The Pakistani Taliban commanders said yesterday that the request came during two meetings in Pakistan's tribal region in November and December. They did not disclose what their response was.
Nato spokesman Brigadier General Carsten Jacobson said the military coalition has a stockpile of supplies that can keep operations in Afghanistan running at their current level even if routes through Pakistan remain closed.
Afghan merchants have complained that their imports have also been affected by the closure of Nato traffic. They say the resulting shortages have driven up prices of flour, sugar, rice and other staples.
"We have reason to wish for the reopening of the routes," Jacobson said. "We are aware that the present situation on the border has a negative effect on both economies." The coalition has reduced its dependence on Pakistan over the last two years by developing alternative routes to Afghanistan through Russia and Central Asia.
