Pakistan allows first supplies into Afghanistan in six months
Editor's note: Read all of Security Clearance's coverage of the 2012 NATO summit in Chicago
By Shaan Khan and Reza Sayah reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan
Four trucks containing supplies for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul drove from Pakistan into Afghanistan on Friday, the first time Pakistan has allowed such a border crossing since closing the routes six months ago, a U.S. official said.
The source noted that officially, there had never been a suspension of the movement of diplomatic supplies through Pakistan, only military supplies, and this did not mean the NATO supply routes had been reopened. But this was the first time diplomatic materials were allowed through in six months.The load on the four trucks was not meant for NATO forces but was made up of construction materials for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, according to the official.
The Pakistani ambassador to the U.S., Sherry Rehman, said the allowing of supplies to be shipped over land was a first step.
"So this is a new beginning. And, obviously, I bring good tidings," Rehman said in an interview broadcast Friday on CNN's Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.
Pakistan and the U.S. have not agreed to a full reopening of the border crossings to allow NATO supplies to flow.
The border has been closed since NATO airstrikes killed 24 Pakistani troops in November and the U.S. refused to apologize for the incident.
The two countries are still negotiating, according to Pakistani and American officials. Among other things, Pakistan is seeking higher transit fees for each load that crosses its border, according to the American official.
The official would speak only on the condition no name was used. Pakistani officials did not respond to requests for comment.
The gesture comes as Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari prepares to head to NATO meetings in Chicago this weekend.
Rehman told CNN's Wolf Blitzer it would be "premature" to say when the blockade would be lifted but said there has been "some movement forward."
Rehman said the demand for an apology continues.
"I think that is not going to go off the table," she said in the interview.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
when did pakis ever have a choice..they are a beggar nation survuvung on US doles....they could not get US to end drones, they never got any apology for nato strikes...and yet pakis are all eager to attend the nato summit..the same nato that killed their pakis...beggars cant be choosers..US knows that after some chest thumping the pakis will once again go back to their corner..hahahhhahah
us buys friends cant you tell?
more drone attacks please
Seems like Pakistan is running out of Money...oh wait...may be Zardari need more money to fill up his coffers before he is outst in Pakistani general elections.
preciate it, we need that stuff so desparately. Thannnnnnk You! almost brought us to our knees, thought we were going to have to pack up and leave know what I'm sayin mannnnnnnn.
One day no more nato no more muslims, peace on earth. The meek shall inherit the earth absolutely for sure. Bye bye new world disorder
Obviously you are an idiot. I feel sorry for your kind who are educated by the US media and not by intellectual academia. If Nadal Hussain kills American soldiers, he is a terrorist but if a US soldier kills Afghan civilians, he "snapped" due to stress. If Secret Service agents hook up with prostitutes, they are "knuckle heads" and do not represent the entire Secret Service. However, if some lost souls who happen to be Muslims blow up buildings and people the entire Muslim community is terrorist???? Grow up. Do your research.
I am not endorsing terrorism and am a patriotic US citizen, however, I feel sorry for you and all others on this blog who have been brainwashed by the media.
youre really grasping for straws there pal, some secret service guys being idiots is related to the islam problem now? or comparable? come on. take a look around the world eric, and tell me if countries with high numbers of muslims in them are somewhere YOU would live. And as for the soldier who murdered those innocents, thats par for the course on every single day of the year in most Muslim countries. Religion of peace?
I we can't get our stuff then maybe a few drone attacks on the convoy will send a message to them and they wont get anything usable after we blow everything up.
Pakistanis would do exactly as they are told when their aid is in jeopardy.
There was 1 pre-condition set by the US to allow Pakistan to attend NATO conference:
1. Open the supply routes before the conference
Pakistan had two pre-conditions:
1. Drone strikes will continue to pound the Pakistani terrorists
2. No apology from the US
Congress committee has passed a bill with strong conditions on the US aid vs. Pakistani compliance.
Seems like Pakistan had to buckled under the US/NATO pressure.
makes me sick to think these mongs are getting cold hard US dollars...this is what happens when the military decides to go around afghanistan paying moolahs to find bin laben...you end up paying and paying...when will the u.s. pay its way out??? and yes, george w bush and little dick cheney get the credit here too...