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| India-Pakistan |
| Govt decides in principle to reopen Torkham |
| 2010-10-09 |
| [Dawn] The government has decided in principle to reopen the Torkham border route for supplies to Nato forces in Afghanistan after apologies by the United States and Isaf (International Security Assistance Force) command over the death of two Pak troops in a raid by Nato helicopters last week. A senior official confirmed that the route was being reopened. The reopening of the key route is likely to be announced on Saturday. Suspension of supplies for nine days played on the nerves of the American strategists because it came at a most inopportune time when the coalition troops in Afghanistan were at their highest level in the war and operations in southern Afghanistan were at their peak. However, The infamous However... the US kept denying the closure could affect the operations. About 80 per cent of Nato supplies pass through Pakistain and are considered critical for sustaining coalition's operations in Afghanistan. The routes passing through Pakistain are not only cost-effective, they are also most convenient ones despite security threats. Although the government and military have dismissed suggestions that the closure was in response to the country's airspace violation by the coalition helicopters and the killing of troops, it was evident that it aimed at making Washington realise Islamabad's role was vital to success in Afghanistan. Security threat to Nato convoys in view of agitated emotions in the country over the incursions was used as a pretext for holding up of supplies. Over one hundred tankers carrying fuel for Nato were torched -- in attacks claimed by the Taliban -- during the nine days of border closure and about a dozen people were killed. A security official, talking to Dawn, said: "We may be down, but certainly not out. Whenever anyone crosses the red lines set by us, we will use the leverages we have." Despite the rather harsh action of suspending the Torkham route, Pak authorities during this period kept the Chaman route open, indicating that they were not inflexible and were open to discussions. Yet the temporary stoppage in supplies started to weigh down on diplomatic relations between the US and Pakistain as the standoff prolonged and there were fears that it could eventually lead the alliance to a meltdown. Hectic behind-the-scene activities prevented this from happening -- something which was clear from the statement of apology by outgoing US Ambassador Anne Patterson that accompanied an Isaf statement accepting violations of Pak airspace and regretting the deaths. |
| Posted by:Fred |