Islamabad: Pakistani authorities have temporarily stopped the movement of NATO trucks to Afghanistan following an attack by militants even as the Foreign Office on Thursday said a new memorandum of understanding covering the transportation of supplies will be signed soon.
The movement of NATO trucks and tankers was temporarily suspended last night so that authorities could improve security for the vehicles, officials told the media.
Militants carried out two attacks on NATO vehicles in the restive Khyber tribal region on Tuesday, killing a driver and injuring his helper.
These were the first attacks on trucks carrying supplies to NATO troops in Afghanistan since Pakistan ended a seven-month blockade of land routes.
Islamabad reopened the supply lines after the US apologised for a NATO air strike that had killed 24 of its soldiers last November.
Over 100 vehicles have crossed into Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing since the blockade ended.
Officials said the NATO vehicles would be allowed to move again after better security measures were put in place.
A new MoU on engagement with the US, including the transportation of NATO supplies through Pakistan, will be signed "very soon", Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan told a weekly news briefing.
The MoU, drafted in line with recommendations from Parliament for resetting Pakistan-US ties, was approved by the cabinet yesterday, Khan said.
In response to a question, he said a schedule is yet to be finalised for the resumption of the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the US.
Commenting on cross-border attacks by militants from Afghan soil, Khan said Pakistan is actively engaging the Afghan government and the International Security Assistance Force on this issue.
"We take these attacks very seriously and we hope that corrective measures will soon be taken by the Afghan government and ISAF command to address this issue," he said.
PTI
