Pakistan, NATO optimistic on supply routes deal

CHICAGO: President Asif Ali Zardari said Monday that the government has ordered negotiators to conclude a deal with the United States to reopen vital supply routes to NATO convoys, as the alliance's chief expressed optimism that an agreement was near.

In a speech to leaders from countries in the NATO-led force in Afghanistan, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said the cabinet's Defense Committee "decided to direct the relevant officials to conclude negotiations for resumption of the Ground Lines of Communication" needed to supply foreign troops in Afghanistan.

Islamabad shut the supply routes in November after a US air strike left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters that he expected Pakistan eventually to reopen the border crossing to allied convoys despite failing to reach a deal at a summit in Chicago.

"We didn't expect an agreement on the Pakistan transit routes to be reached at this summit. That was not planned," Rasmussen said.

But he added: "I express some optimism as regards the possibility to see a reopening of transit routes in the very near future."

In his address, Zadari called the botched air raid "a serious setback" that "required that we review our engagement and cooperation."

The parliament "has spoken in favor of cooperation and a partnership approach," he said. (AFP)