Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-US negotiations over NATO supply resumption and payment of containers have reportedly made headway after a high-level meeting, SAMAA reports.

Officials from both the sides expressed optimism that Islamabad was close to reopening its Afghan border to NATO troop supplies after a 7-month blockade.

Sources said Pakistan is likely to receive $1000 per NATO container, adding that it was decided in a meeting between Federal Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh and US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Thomas Nides in Islamabad here Monday.

The US reportedly assured Pakistan that it would release the $300 billion Coalition Support Fund (CSF) in six to eight instalments, and that it will also pay Pakistan for repairing of roads damaged due to NATO containers’ transportation.

Rather than a formal apology, sources said, the U.S would just issue an ‘excuse’ statement for the Salala incident, giving Pakistan a justification to resume the NATO supply. – SAMAA