Pak may face sanctions if it doesn't open NATO supply routes

Lahore, May 7:

might face sanctions if it does not open supply routes to the US-led

forces in

through its territory, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar has said.

"Pakistan has signed international conventions and under them, it would not be easy to continue the suspension of (NATO) supplies as it may lead to sanctions by the international community," Mukhtar said during his interaction with the media here yesterday.

Pakistan had closed all supply routes after a cross-border NATO air strike killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November and Islamabad is demanding a public apology for the incident for reopening the routes.

Last month, a joint session of parliament adopted guidelines for resetting relations with the US, including the reopening of the NATO supply routes. Asked about Pakistan-US defence cooperation, Mukhtar said, Islamabad had asked Washington to conduct joint and coordinated drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal belt but this was refused.

PTI