US Commander Mattis to visit Pakistan soon

WASHINGTON: The top US commander has said that he will visit Pakistan in about 10 days to talk with leaders about reopening ground supply routes that have been closed since late November.

Gen. James Mattis, commander of US Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the US needs those supply routes to facilitate the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

Pakistan rebuffed any US military visits since US airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at Salala checkpost and Islamabad's parliament is working out new guidelines to define the US-Pakistan alliance.