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Pakistan is about to resume normal arrangement of trucks with NATO supplies passing through its territory, the country’s top diplomat in Islamabad has said.
“Truck cargo was suspended. Some humanitarian supplies may have drifted through, you know, and those as you know, are humanitarian supplies. But really, no serious material that had been crossing over for six months. So, this is a new beginning, and obviously, it brings good tidings,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Sherry Rehman, told CNN in an interview.
“Yes, I think that we are looking at a conversation which is a very positive,” Rehman said when asked that whether Pakistan is about to resume the normal arrangement allowing trucks from Pakistan to bring supplies to US and Nato troops in Afghanistan?
“We have been negotiating things and trying to operationalise an agreement, a memorandum, perhaps, that can be transparent,” she said.
“I think it would be premature to say when the trucks resume, but there is no fit of peak against the United States. We’re not doing a full spectrum review because it’s some irrational moment of pause. It is because the Pakistani people are looking for some restitution,” Rehman said.
Rehman, however, refused to respond to questions on the new transit tax being imposed by Pakistan on Nato trucks. There are reports that Pakistan is demanding somewhere between $5,000 to $6,000 per container – a 34 fold increase in the existing rate.
“I’m really not looking at the nuts and bolts of the agreement. Those are teams on the ground that are empowered to wade through the complex choreography of frameworks that we have to built, but, perhaps, if you look at the end root where your trucks move through much longer, but I believe the double of that amount is paid,” she said when asked by the new transit tax being demanded by Pakistan.
Rehman, however, said that she wouldn’t be haggling on the price.
“I think what’s important for us is to keep our eye on the bigger picture where strategic decisions have to be made. So, the price is not really what I’m sitting here to talk to you about,” she said.
Option of US apology over Salala attack still on table: Sherry Rehman
Sherry Rehman said that Pakistan has not eliminated the option of US apology over Salala attack and the government still affirms the stance that US should tender apology over the incident.
The ambassador said that Pakistan would continue to raise the issue of apology over Salala attack, which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, from US.
Sherry said that Pak-US relationship is going through a critical phase as both countries wanted to implement their conditions for the betterment of the relationship.