US, Pakistan is making progress on Nato supply routes: State Department
US State Department spokesperson says US team is still in Islamabad, working with the Pakistanis on the issue.
WASHINGTON:
The US State Department said Monday that the United States and Pakistan have made "considerable progress" in talks aimed at reopening NATO supply routes into Afghanistan.
"Our team is still in Islamabad working on the land route issue. My understanding this morning is that they have made considerable progress but they are still working," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
"They are not yet finished with the Pakistanis," she told reporters, declining to give details on the substance of the talks between the two sides.
"But we're having a full review with the government of Pakistan on how this transit system works and all of the issues are on the table in that context," Nuland added.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Monday it was time to "move on" and repair ties with the US and NATO, the strongest sign yet that it is ready to reopen supply routes into Afghanistan closed for nearly six months.
Khar made the remarks one day before Pakistani leaders are to discuss ending the blockade, and accept a key demand from the West in time to attend a NATO summit in Chicago on May 20-21.
Islamabad shut its Afghan border to NATO supplies after US air strikes killed 24 soldiers on November 26, provoking a major crisis in bilateral ties on top of the outcry from the raid that killed Osama bin Laden last May.
The US State Department said Monday that the United States and Pakistan have made "considerable progress" in talks aimed at reopening NATO supply routes into Afghanistan.
"Our team is still in Islamabad working on the land route issue. My understanding this morning is that they have made considerable progress but they are still working," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
"They are not yet finished with the Pakistanis," she told reporters, declining to give details on the substance of the talks between the two sides.
"But we're having a full review with the government of Pakistan on how this transit system works and all of the issues are on the table in that context," Nuland added.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Monday it was time to "move on" and repair ties with the US and NATO, the strongest sign yet that it is ready to reopen supply routes into Afghanistan closed for nearly six months.
Khar made the remarks one day before Pakistani leaders are to discuss ending the blockade, and accept a key demand from the West in time to attend a NATO summit in Chicago on May 20-21.
Islamabad shut its Afghan border to NATO supplies after US air strikes killed 24 soldiers on November 26, provoking a major crisis in bilateral ties on top of the outcry from the raid that killed Osama bin Laden last May.