Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, which serves as the route for Nato supplies, remains closed, but there have been clear indications that it could be opened soon. The plan to end the six-month blockade of supplies meant for coalition troops in Afghanistan came after Pakistan's cabinet authorised officials to conclude their negotiations with the US over reopening it. It was closed after the US attack on two border posts in November that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. The US has said it was an accident, but the Pakistani army has claimed it was deliberate.
The decision to work on ending the blockade shows how much both countries need each other. The US and its Nato allies are winding down their operations in Afghanistan and this route is pivotal to its smooth conduct. Before the November attack, the US and other Nato countries fighting in Afghanistan shipped about 30 per cent of their non-lethal supplies through Pakistan. Since then, supplies have taken a far more expensive route through eastern Europe and Asia.
For Pakistan, this could mean freeing up around $1 billion in US aid which has been frozen. But the move is likely to face a domestic backlash as the US has not yet apologised for the border attacks, a key Pakistani demand. Nor has it said that drone attacks on the country will cease. Hardline Islamist leaders have threatened to block the supply route if it does reopen, but it's unclear how successful they would be.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has accepted an invitation to attend the Nato summit in Chicago on May 20-21, where he will deliver a speech to the countries with a fighting force in Afghanistan. This will be keenly watched as Pakistan is seen as a key player in talks to broker peace in that country.
Whatever the outcome, the fact that there is a thaw in the relationship between the US and Pakistan is a positive step which needs to be worked on for the benefit of peace in the region.
