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Supply route from Pakistan to Afghanistan reopened
A supply route from Pakistan used to transport materials to Western forces in Afghanistan has been reopened, after protesters angry about military searches for militants lifted a blockade, a government official said.
- Agencies
- Published: 11:42 January 14, 2009
Chaman, Pakistan: A supply route from Pakistan used to transport materials to Western forces in Afghanistan has been reopened, after protesters angry about military searches for militants lifted a blockade, a government official said.
Pashtun tribesmen blocked one of two routes through Pakistan on Saturday to protest against security force searches for militants in the town of Qila Abdullah, about 70 km southwest of the border crossing at Chaman.
Provincial government official Khaliq Nazar Kayani, who is based in Qila Abdullah, said the protesters had agreed late on Tuesday to end their blockade.
"We talked them round last night and traffic is moving smoothly," Kayani said.
A tribal elder said the blockade had been lifted after authorities promised to investigate the "unjust" searches.
The other route, the Khyber Pass, has been targeted by militants several times in recent months, disrupting transport.
The US military relies on the Pakistan routes for 75 per cent of supplies, including 40 percent of the fuel for its troops, the US Defence Department says
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