Afghanistan, Kabul, 8 September / Trend corr. A.Hakimi / Land-route supplies from Pakistan to NATO forces in Afghanistan have resumed after a key highway passing through the volatile tribal region was secured, a senior official said.
Dispatch of goods to international troops through the western Torkham border was stopped on Friday, following three cross-border attacks on villages in the Pakistan side. Local Taliban had threatened to torch vehicles carrying shipments for foreign soldiers.
Dawn TV quoted Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik as saying that NATO supplies, temporarily suspended after kidnapping 20 paramilitary troops, restarted late Saturday night. Security forces had purged the area of insurgents, he said.
As vital supplies including fuel to US-led coalition and NATO forces stationed in Afghanistan were halted, more than 30 loaded trucks were prevented crossing the troubled frontier. One border official earlier said they were ordered by the Interior Ministry not to let trucks laden with provisions for US and NATO forces cross the frontier.
Pakistan was serious about safeguarding its territorial integrity, Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said after the step. We have told them that we will take action and we have already taken action today. We have stopped the supply of oil and this will tell how serious we are
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Oil tankers and consignments meant for NATO forces were allowed entry into Afghanistan, one border guard said. The drivers were instructed to ensure they crossed the border in daytime to avoid security problems.