Taliban express delight over reopening of NATO routes: Report

Taliban insurgents have illegally received millions of dollars for not attacking Nato trucks.

KANDAHAR: The Taliban have expressed delight over the reopening of Nato supply route to Afghanistan which was blocked after a US airstrike on a Pakistani check post which killed 24 soldiers, Associated Press (AP) reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, Taliban insurgents have illegally received millions of dollars from security firms in Afghanistan for not attacking the trucks carrying supplies to the forces fighting in the war-torn country.

“Stopping these supplies caused us real trouble,” a Taliban commander who leads about 60 insurgents in eastern Ghazni province said.

“Earnings dropped down pretty badly. Therefore the rebellion was not as strong as we had planned.”

Another Taliban commander said: “We are able to make money in bundles, therefore the Nato supply is very important for us.”

Pakistan reopened the Nato supply routes after US secretary of state Hilary Clinton offered an apology for the cross border attacks.

Pakistan and the US also signed a new agreement today replacing the existing Memorandum of Understanding in place since 2004. The new deal is part of an overall review Pakistan had sought in its ties with the US.

As per this deal, Pakistan will not allow transportation of arms and ammunition, as demanded by the parliament in its foreign policy recommendations.