February 8, 2012 - 18:22 AMT
NATO, Afghan, Pakistani officials to hold 1st talks since air attack

NATO, Afghan and Pakistani military officials will hold talks on improving border security and coordination on Wednesday, February 8 in a possible sign that tension is easing following a cross-border NATO air attack in November that infuriated Pakistan, Reuters reported.

Pakistan's military said the director-general of military operations, Major-General Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed, would represent the country in the talks at a coordination centre at the border.

Pakistan closed NATO supply routes to Afghanistan after the air attack, which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and plunged relations between Pakistan and the United States to their lowest point in years.

Islamabad expects to re-open the supply routes, but will impose tariffs, a senior Pakistani security official stated earlier.

The United States needs cooperation from regional power in Pakistan as it tries to stabilize Afghanistan before most NATO combat troops withdraw in 2014.