As an ISAF delegation led by General John Allen arrived here to put pressure on Pakistan for reopening NATO supplies, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani reportedly told the visiting emissaries that the government would take the final decision on the issue in a week’s time.
The row between Pakistan and the United States over last year’s attacks by NATO aircraft on Pakistani border posts that killed 24 soldiers has been exacerbated by the US’ reluctance to tender apology and stop drone attacks – key demands put forward by Pakistan’s parliament for reopening NATO supply routes to Afghanistan.
The ISAF delegation arrived for the most significant talks that Pakistan has hosted with the international military alliance and the Afghan military for a year, in a sign that tensions between Pakistan and the US are easing. Sources said the Pakistani side pressed the visitors for an enquiry against those responsible for the Salala attacks, and reminded them that there had been no formal apology from the US. The Pakistani military said in a statement that preliminary meetings between General Allen and Kayani focused on “operations in border areas and coordination mechanisms to avoid untoward incidents”.
“The tripartite commission is expected to meet after the arrival of Afghan army chief, General Sher Muhammad Karimi on Sunday,” a senior security official told AFP. He said the date and time of the commission’s meeting would be disclosed later. The commission will focus on enhancing measures along the Pak-Afghan border and to improve co-operation at operational and tactical levels, the military said. Pakistani leaders are also scheduled to meet next week to discuss ending the nearly six-month blockade on NATO supplies. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will convene the meetings which will also debate how to repair relations with the United States in time to attend a key NATO summit later this month.
Just a week more, Kayani tells US
