Defence minister urges reopening of Nato supply routes: Report

Ahmad Mukhtar says government should negotiate new “terms and conditions” with Nato.

Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar on Tuesday urged the reopening of Nato supply routes after negotiating a better deal with the US, The Associated Press has reported.

Mukhtar said that the government should negotiate new “terms and conditions” with Nato and then reopen the Pak-Afghan border which was being used to supply material to the Nato forces in Afghanistan, the report said.

The border was closed after the deadly Nato attack on November 26 last year which killed 25 Pakistani soldiers at the Salala checkpost.

Pakistan’s foreign office had indicated that the routes would be reopened once the parliament approves new terms of engagements with the US; however, several religious parties have expressed concern over the reopening.