Pakistan won't charge transit fee for Nato supply movement: Clinton

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday said Pakistan will not charge any transit fee for allowing Nato supplies to be transported through Pakistan to Afghanistan.

In a statement issued by the US state department Clinton talking to Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said: "We are sorry for the losses of Pakistan military lives (caused by a Nato attack on Salala check post last year) and that Pakistan is re-opening ground supply lines into Afghanistan."

Clinton said: "Pakistan will continue not to charge any transit fee in the larger interest of peace and security in Afghanistan and the region.

Later, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira talking to media persons confirmed that the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) has decided not to charge any transit fee for allowing Nato supply transportation through Pakistan to Afghanistan.

"Pakistan will not charge transit fee… it was not a financial case but an issue of Pakistan's sovereignty," Kaira Said, adding Pakistan neither charged any such fee before nor will it do so in future.