By Ziyoda Kurbanova | July 5, 2012 - 17:00 GMT 
The first truck with supplies to American and NATO forces in Afghanistan has crossed Pakistan today (5 July). This happened after the United States pronounced an official apology for the deaths of 24 Pakistani solders killed in NATO airstrike November 2011 on Monday (3 July).
"We are sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani military. We are committed to working closely with Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent this from ever happening again" said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a phone call to the Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday (3 July). Immediately after Mrs Clinton’s official statement, Pakistan reopened its transport corridor with Afghanistan to allow NATO supply trucks through its territory.
The move will reportedly improve bilateral ties between the two countries, which has historically been at a low. For the United States, which has been looking for alternative communication routes primarily through Central Asia, the resumption of the Pakistani transport corridor could significantly reduce its federal military spending.
The cargo supply through alternative routes has added $100 million to monthly military spending. In view of upcoming military withdrawal from Afghanistan, the amount of spending could have been significantly increased if the United States and Pakistan would not have resumed the official ties. While the United States clearly benefits from the resumed transport corridor, the gains for Pakistan are yet to be revealed.
(Photo: D.R.)
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