Pakistan gives go-ahead for reopening NATO supply routes

Islamabad, Apr 18 (ANI): Pakistan's decision-making body on national security has reportedly given the green signal for reopening of vital supply lines to NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Pakistan's Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) also approved a roadmap, paving the way for normalisation of bilateral relations between Pakistan and the US.

An official familiar with the matter said the government would now negotiate and sign a fresh agreement with the US under which NATO routes would be reopened.

Besides Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, the meeting was attended by key members of his Cabinet, three services chiefs and the head of Inter-Services Intelligence, The Express Tribune reports.

According to the report, the government did not give any timeline, but the official said that a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would possibly be concluded before a NATO summit in Chicago next month.

An official statement issued by Gilani after the meeting hinted at lifting of the almost five-month-old blockade.

"The US- Pakistan bilateral relationship is an important one and we must be mindful of our national interest and uphold our territorial integrity and national sovereignty," Gilani said.

"Now, we need to move beyond [the] review," he added. (ANI)