Pakistan says ‘NO’ to NATO

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Pakistan’s government had closed its key ground routes into neighboring Afghanistan in November 2011 after a cross-border NATO air raid hit military posts accidently and killed 24 Pakistani soldiers that brought U.S.-Pakistan relations to a new low. The Unite States has been trying to persuade the Pakistani government to reopen its routes into Afghanistan.   

Peter Lavo who is a U.S. defense official arrived in Islamabad to try to conclude the deal but his meeting with the Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was turned down.  

A team of U.S. negotiators were pulled out from Pakistan after the failure of several weeks of talks between two sides on Monday, which were aimed at resumption of land route for NATO-led forces battling in Afghanistan.  

George Little, Pentagon spokesman said some members of the U.S. team had already left Islamabad this weekend, and the remaining would return soon. He said, “We’ve not reached a resolution yet with the Pakistanis on reopening the ground supply routes”, and “We hope to resolve the issue soon.”

He also added, “The decision was reached to bring the team home for a short period of time. That’s not to be taken as a sign of our unwillingness to continue the dialogue with Pakistanis on this issue”.

The spokesmen in both Islamabad and Washington claimed the talks have not failed. On that, Pentagon spokesperson said, “We will continue to have dialogue, so while the issue is not resolved, the talking has not stalled.”

The multinational coalition was forced to use the alternative supply routes to Afghanistan through Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Last week, deals were signed by NATO with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to use their land to send away vehicles and military equipment from Afghanistan.