No new agreement has been signed for ending the seven-month-long blockade by Pakistan of Nato's Ground Lines of Communications (GLOCs), United Sates Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Hoagland said on Friday. Pakistan reopened key supply routes for US containers shut in the wake of the Salala incident after Washington offered 'sorry' for the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in the Nato air-strike.
"We've resumed our relations from the point where we had left in November last year (after the Salala incident)," Hoagland told media persons after attending a pre-departure orientation session for the winners of Fulbright scholarships for 2013. He argued that there was no need to sign a new agreement in this regard, adding the development was important for Natocountries as well as for the efforts of peace and stability in Afghanistan. Hoagland's remarks also contradicted Foreign Office's contention. Its spokesperson had said the other day that the two countries were engaged in some 'arrangements' to facilitate the process of resumption of Nato supplies through Pakistan's territory.
The US diplomat also welcomed Pakistan's move to reopen Nato supply routes without demanding any transit fee. He said that the step would further strengthen Pakistan-US relations. During negotiations over the past several months, both sides had agreed to work together to discuss and resolve many issues, he said.
When media persons drew his attention towards the severe criticism by US media on Obama administration for offering 'sorry' to Pakistan, Hoagland argued that media hype was a natural thing in any election year in the US. He, however, declared that everything being highlighted in the media was not true.
To another question, he said that all things, including the issue of Dr Shakil Afridi and the alleged harassment of US diplomats by Pakistani security officials, were being discussed between the officials of the two countries. He, however, said that these issues were not part of the recent talks between the two countries.