Nato strikes deal with Russia on Afghan equipment transfer

Moscow and Nato struck a deal Saturday to boost the flow of Western military supply shipments through Russia to the frontline in Afghanistan, Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. "I'm pleased to be able to already announce today the completion of arrangements that will allow for the expanded transit of equipment to the ISAF mission via the Russian Federation," Rasmussen said.
The Nato chief did not go into detail on the accord, but officials had said before the summit that they were seeking Moscow's approval to make shipments on Russian railways into and out of Afghanistan of non-lethal supplies. Previous arrangements only allowed equipment to head towards Afghanistan, and some equipment - such as armoured vehicles - was not allowed, forcing the alliance to use a more dangerous route through restive Pakistan.