News
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Pakistan, ISAF discuss border operations, supply routes* Gen Kayani tells Gen Allen parliament will decide on resumption of NATO supplies
* Two generals agree to enhance border coordination
By I Hussain
ISLAMABAD: ISAF Commander General John Allen called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani on Saturday and discussed border operations and restoration of NATO supply routes to Afghanistan.
Senior security officials said that General Allen was soliciting for restoration of the supply route that was suspended following a NATO attack on a checkpost in Mohmand in November last year.
The NATO/ISAF attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers had strained ties between Pakistan and the US as well as resulted in suspending supplies to the NATO in Afghanistan.
After the attack, improved coordination among the forces of Pakistan and NATO in the bordering areas was stressed.
An ISAF delegation, led by General Allen, arrived in Rawalpindi on Saturday to attend a Tripartite Commission meeting.
Security sources, however, said that the COAS reiterated that parliament and the Defence Committee of Cabinet would decide on the issue of NATO supply route.
Pakistan and ISAF agreed to enhance coordination system so that any untoward incident along the bordering areas could be avoided in future, a statement from the ISPR said.
According to the ISPR, in the bilateral meeting between Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani and ISAF Commander General John Allen, the two sides also focused on operations in border areas.
A security official said that the two sides also discussed the war on terror besides other issues of mutual interest.
Security sources said that the bilateral meeting was held on Saturday but the tripartite meeting was likely today (Sunday) when the Afghan army chief, General Sher Muhammad Karimi, would also be present in Rawalpindi.
“However, the exact time and date will be decided after the Afghan army chief’s arrival,” they added.
This would be the first tripartite meeting after parliament submitted its recommendation pertaining to restoration of the NATO supply and drone attacks. Pakistan has demanded a formal apology from the US for the cross-border attack before it reopens the supply routes, and has also called for an end to US drone strikes in its Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has already said that Pakistan could miss out on the important summit on the future of Afghanistan, to be held in Chicago on May 20-21, if it fails to reopen supply routes in time.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk