NATO hopes Pakistan supply route to reopen soon

Foreign Minister Qureshi, NATO chief Rasmussen meet in Brussels to discuss Isaf incursions in Pakistan territory.

BRUSSELS: Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed regret on Monday for the deaths of Pakistani soldiers last week and said he hoped Pakistan's border would reopen for Nato supplies to Afghanistan as soon as possible.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Brussels to discuss the recent operations of Isaf helicopters in Pakistani territory. The two met on the sidelines of a two-day Asia-Europe Meeting.

Angered by repeated attacks by Nato helicopters within its borders, Pakistan blocked one of the supply routes for Nato troops in Afghanistan after one strike killed three Pakistani soldiers last week in the western Kurram region.

"I expressed my regret for the incident last week in which Pakistani soldiers lost their lives," Rasmussen. "I expressed my hope the border will be open for supplies as soon as possible; the foreign minister committed work on that for which I am very grateful."