NATO seeks resumption of Pakistan ties

NATO seeks to mend fences with Islamabad to restart using the crucial route in Pakistan through which supplies are sent for foreign forces in Afghanistan, a coalition spokesman has said. Islamabad stopped the supply convoys destined for the 130,000-strong US-led force occupying Afghanistan in response to deadly NATO airstrikes on November 26 that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at two checkpoints on the Afghan border. "We... have an interest for the international community and for Afghanistan that relations with Pakistan are normalizing as quickly as possible," said Brigadier General Carsten Jacobsen on Monday in Kabul. The 5-week closure has left tens of thousands of tons of supplies bound for NATO forces in Afghanistan piling up at Pakistan southern port of Karachi. "At present, a total of 3,676 military vehicles and 1,732 containers belonging to NATO forces are at the port," a Karachi port official told a French news agency. Foreign forces in Afghanistan rely heavily on the Pakistani supply route into the landlocked country. Afghan traders have also complained that their imports from Pakistan have also been affected by the blockade of NATO traffic. They say the resulting shortages have driven up prices of food and other items in Afghanistan. The deadly US-led NATO airstrikes heightened tensions between Washington and Islamabad, with Pakistani officials alleging that the US intentionally targeted their troops at border posts. Pakistani officials say they have proved with relevant pictures and maps that the foreign forces deliberately carried out airstrikes. Pakistan has also rejected a recent NATO inquiry report that blamed the incident on mistakes by both sides.