KARACHI: The NATO supply route has reopened after a seven month blockade. Containers from Port Qasim Karachi have started leaving for Afghanistan and directives have also been issued for continuation of supply in Torkham, Chaman, Karachi Port and Quetta to custom officials.
Earlier on Wednesday, the federal cabinet endorsed the decision of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) for reopening of the supply route.
The DCC decided to reopen the Ground Lines of Communication (GLOC) through Pakistani territory to and from Afghanistan after Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said the US was sorry for the losses to the Pakistani military.
The decision was made to facilitate the transition and subsequent transformation process in Afghanistan.
The DCC also decided that no lethal cargo will go into Afghanistan except equipment for Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), essential for ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The DCC reconfirmed that Pakistan will continue not to charge any transit fee but the issue in the first place was not of financial gains but of the principle of sovereignty.
Nato supplies were halted by Pakistan after the unfortunate incident of Salala, last year on 26th November, 2011 when 24 Pakistani soldiers were martyred by the US forces.