NATO supplies resume through reopened Pak-Afghan border

PESHAWAR - NATO supply trucks and oil tankers have started crossing the Pakistan-Afghan border at Torkham after Islamabad agreed to open the crossing after an 11-day deadlock.

“The first convoy through the Torkham border crossing, comprising more than a dozen vehicles, left for Afghanistan on Sunday afternoon,” The Daily Times quoted Muhamad Nawaz, a Pakistani Customs official, as saying.

“More vehicles loaded with supplies for NATO and US troops were ready to leave,” he added.

The key supply route for US-led forces in Afghanistan was shut down following the September 30 NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) cross-border helicopter attack that killed two Pakistani soldiers close to the Afghan border.

The Pakistan government reopened the Torkham border route following apologies over the incident by the US and the ISAF.

“Our relevant authorities are now in the process of co-ordinating with authorities on the other side of the border to ensure smooth resumption of the supply traffic,” a Pakistan Foreign Ministry statement had said.

In response, US Embassy Spokesman Richard Snelsire stated that his country welcomed the “positive development”. (ANI)