US offers apology to Pakistan over Salala attack

Pakistan has announced to reopen NATO supplies for Afghanistan following the US apology over the attack on Salala check post last November

Pakistan has announced to reopen ground supply lines into Afghanistan after United States apologized for killing of its 24 troops in an attack on Salala check post last November.

Briefing newsmen after meeting of Defence Committee of the Cabinet in Islamabad late last night‚ Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the Committee has decided to reopen the supply route after the apology of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over the Salala incident.

The Minister said the United States has showed softness in its stance and accepted our principled position over the issue.

Qamar Zaman Kaira said we appreciate this decision which is not anyone’s victory or defeat.
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He said Pakistan decided to cooperate with NATO with a view to maintain peace and stability in Afghanistan.

To a question‚ he said transit fee is not a financial issue and it has been decided in principle that Pakistan would not charge any fee for NATO supply as it was a matter of national honour and dignity.

The Minister said national honour and dignity cannot be measured in terms of money.

The Information Minister said only necessary items would be allowed inside Afghanistan for NATO‚ ISAF and Afghan forces.

He said the government negotiated with the United States in line with the recommendations of the Parliament‚ which reflects aspirations of people.
The Minister said Pakistan has made it clear that it will not allow the United States to transport lethal weapons to Afghanistan.

He reiterated that the drone attacks should be stopped as these are violation of sovereignty of Pakistan and international laws.

The Minister said that talks about stoppage of drone attacks are going on with the United States.

Qamar Zaman Kaira said the United States has been told that there should not no recurrence of Salala like attacks and it should respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.

He said the United States has assured Pakistan that there will no repeat of Salala like incidents in future.

He said Pakistan as a responsible nation wanted to eradicate terrorism from the region and bring peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as in the region.

To another question about Coalition Support Fund‚ the Minister said CSF is not an assistance to Pakistan but it is the amount which Pakistan had already spent on fight against terrorism.

Earlier‚ in a statement U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed a sense of remorse over the loss of 24 Pakistani soldiers in American strikes on Salala check last November.

She said I offer our sincere condolences to the families of the Pakistani soldiers who lost their lives. .

Hillary Clinton appreciated Pakistan’s massive sacrifices and contribution to the fight against terrorism.

She said Washington is committed to working closely with Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent this tragic incident from happening again.

Secretary Clinton said she talked with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on phone last night about the importance of taking coordinated action against terrorists who threaten Pakistan‚ the United States‚ Afghanistan and the region. She said we also talked of working together to increase trade and investment to strengthening our people-to-people ties.