Afghanistan: Provide routes opened

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: U.S. army can pay Pakistan $1.1 billion owed for counterterrorism, officers say
• Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apologizes for U.S. "pleasant fireplace" incident that killed 24
• Pakistan leaders be expecting a backlash from opposition, knowledge minister says
• Pakistan may not are seeking charge of $5,000 in keeping with truck because it in advance sought, Hillary Clinton says

(CNN) -- Pakistan has made up our minds to reopen provide routes that the U.S. and its allies have used for his or her troops in Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated Tuesday.

Clinton additionally apologized for a "pleasant fireplace" incident final November by which coalition forces killed 24 Pakistani squaddies at a checkpoint.

Clinton's assertion comes as representatives from the 2 countries mentioned the reopening of flooring provide routes into Afghanistan all through conferences remaining weekend that integrated Gen. John Allen, the commander people.. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, stated a senior U.S. reliable who wasn't approved to talk publicly in regards to the delicate negotiations.

The talks were caught on key problems -- Pakistan's call for to fee extra in step with box shipped throughout its border, and Pakistan's call for the us express regret for the pleasant fireplace incident in November 2011.

U.S.-Pakistan family members plunged to an rock bottom within the November incident, through which NATO fighter jets attacked a Pakistani checkpoint close to the Afghan border.

The U.S. govt expressed remorseful about over the incident however had now not issued an immediate apology -- until Clinton's remark Tuesday.

"We are sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani army. We're devoted to operating carefully with Pakistan and Afghanistan to stop this from ever taking place again," Clinton's commentary stated. Clinton spoke with Pakistan's international minister by telephone Tuesday morning, she said.

"The Overseas Minister and that i had been reminded that our troops -- Pakistani and American -- are in a combat towards a standard enemy. We're each sorry for losses suffered by each our nations on this battle towards terrorists," Clinton mentioned within the remark. "WE'VE greater our counter-terrorism cooperation in opposition to terrorists that threaten Pakistan and the United States, with the purpose of defeating Al-Qaida within the region."

Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, Sherry Rehman, mentioned her usa favored Clinton's commentary and hopes "that bilateral ties can transfer to a greater position from here."

"I am assured that each international locations can agree on many very important issues, particularly on bringing peace to the region," the ambassador mentioned in a statement.

Regarding the united states.. apology, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Pakistan's minister for info and broadcasting, stated that Pakistani leaders "don't seem to be calling this a large victory or anyone else's defeat."

"The govt and armed forces of Pakistan has made them notice on concept that they need to ask for forgiveness to the Pakistani nation, and so they did," Kaira said.

Kaira expressed worry a couple of family backlash by competition events approximately reopening the routes, however "with a bit of luck Pakistani folks won't hearken to them," Kaira advised CNN.

Meanwhile, the united states.. army will now pay Pakistan $1.1 billion it owes as a part of the deal struck to reopen the NATO provide lines, in keeping with U.S. officers who had wisdom of the agreement's main points however were not approved to talk publicly.

The cash is a part of a U.S. army application known as "coalition reinforce funds," which reimburses the Pakistani army for counterterrorism efforts. The U.S... halted paying the expenses from Pakistan as rigidity rose among the 2 countries.

The Pentagon will discuss with Congress approximately paying the expenses previous to paying Pakistan in full, consistent with probably the most U.S. officials.

Pakistan will proceed to press the united states.. management to forestall drone attacks, Kaira said.

Under Tuesday's announcements, Pakistan agreed to not impose any transit rate with the reopened routes, Clinton stated in a statement.

Pakistan have been looking for $5,000 consistent with truck as a situation of reopening the availability lines, U.S. officers stated. The Pakistani routes be offering a shorter and extra direct path than the only NATO was the use of considering November that is going via Russia and different nations, keeping off Pakistan altogether.

It has value the U.S... $100 million extra a month to make use of the opposite northern routes.

Pakistan's Overseas Minister Hina Rubbani Khar advised Clinton "that the bottom provide traces (GLOC) into Afghanistan are opening," Clinton mentioned within the statement.

"Pakistan will proceed to not price any transit price within the greater hobby of peace and safety in Afghanistan and the region," Clinton mentioned. "IT IS A tangible demonstration of Pakistan's strengthen for a secure, peaceful, and filthy rich Afghanistan and our shared goals within the region."

The motion can even assist the us and the NATO-led World Safety Help Drive behavior a deliberate drawdown of troops at a miles decrease cost, she mentioned. "THAT IS severely vital to the lads and ladies who're preventing terrorism and extremism in Afghanistan."

Before Clinton's apology on Tuesday, the U.S. had stopped in need of this sort of gesture. President Barack Obama had introduced condolences however stopped wanting apologizing. Secretary of Safeguard Leon Panetta final month instructed Reuters that the U.S. was no longer amenable to an apology, and that i" suppose it is time to transfer on."

Gen. John Allen, commander folks.. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, mentioned he welcomes the verdict to reopen the availability traces "as an indication of Pakistan's assist safe a brighter long run for each Afghanistan and the area at large," the NATO-led power stated in a statement.

Per present practice, no deadly apparatus will transfer into Afghanistan at the provide routes, except apparatus for the Afghan Nationwide Safety Forces, Clinton mentioned Tuesday.

Allen has traveled to Pakistan a number of instances in contemporary weeks to fulfill with Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Pakistan's leader of military staff, the NATO-led power stated Tuesday, and proceed construction "the more and more vital and certain military-to-military dating among Pakistan and ISAF."

Later Tuesday, Pakistan's Security Committee of Cabinet, a gaggle of most sensible civilian and army leadership, introduced it determined to reopen the routes after assembly at High Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf's house.

"The DCC stressed out that, as really helpful by the Parliament, Pakistan's long term members of the family with the united states need to be in accordance with mutual admire and mutual pastime and performed in a clear manner," the observation said.

CNN's Chris Lawrence, Nasir Habib, Michael Martinez, Mike Mount and Jill Dougherty contributed to this report.

Read More... [Source: CNN.com - World]