Secret 'backroom talks' fails to break Pak-U.S. impasse on NATO routes, drone strikes

Islamabad, May 5 (ANI): In a bid to break the lingering impasse on the resumption of vital land supply routes for NATO forces stationed in Afghanistan as well as drone strikes inside the tribal belt, Pakistan and the U.S. are working overtime, away from the media glare, sources said.

A group of U.S. officials, comprising economic, military and intelligence experts, has quietly been in the capital since last week discussing ways out of the ongoing deadlock with Pakistani counterparts, reports The Express Tribune.

The U.S. officials, whose visit has been kept away from the media glare, have already held a series of discussions with concerned authorities in Pakistan, the paper stated.

One Pakistan official revealed that the deadlock still persists primarily on two issues: An unconditional apology over last year's NATO air strikes on Salala and a halt to the drone campaign.

The Foreign Ministry, however, did not confirm the presence of U.S. officials in the capital.

The U.S. Embassy said discussions were continuing. "We continue to talk together on the full range of bilateral issues. Some of the team members who came last week with Ambassador Grossman have remained here for ongoing discussions," U.S. Embassy spokesman Mark Stroh said. (ANI)