NATO calls on Pakistan to open border for supplies
By IANSMonday, October 4, 2010
BRUSSELS - NATO Monday expressed regrets for the death of three Pakistani soldiers killed in its cross-border helicopter raid against Taliban militants and asked Pakistan to open the border for supplies as soon as possible.
The Pakistani government Thursday shut down one of the most heavily used supply routes for NATO convoys in retaliation for the increasing number of attacks by US-led NATO forces on targets in the border region with Pakistan that serve as a base for militant groups in Afghanistan.
“Obviously, it was unintended. We have to make sure we improve coordination between our militaries and our Pakistani partners,” NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement after meeting Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
“There is a joint investigation underway. We will determine what happened, and draw the right lessons,” EuAsia News quoted Rasmussen as saying.
“It is important that we step up our cooperation in the border region. We must together prevent militants from crossing the border to attack and kill Afghans and international soldiers,” Rasmussen added.
Rasmussen expressed hope that the border will be open for supplies as soon as possible. “The foreign minister committed work on that, for which I am grateful,” the NATO chief said.
Qureshi is in the Belgian capital to attend the 8th Asia-Europe (ASEM) summit.
