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"We are close to a solution, but still have some way togo," says Fawad Chaudhury, the spokesperson for Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani . The closed route has been a bone of contention between the US andPakistan ever since NATO forces attacked two military checkpointsin Salala, along the Pakistan- Afghanistan border, killing 24 Pakistani soldiers and injuring an additional13. In response to the attack, the Pakistanis shut down the supplyroutes running through their territory, forcing NATO to use airtransport and ground routes through Central Asia instead. In the run-up to today's Chicago summit, the Pakistani governmenthas faced countervailing pressures, with NATO and Washington pushing Pakistan to reopen the supply lines, and domesticopposition parties pushing to keep them closed. A gradualdemocratization of Pakistan's foreign policy once the preserveof the military has added many voices across the politicalspectrum into the debate over the NATO supply routes. Parliament wants its say On April 12 the Pakistani parliament passed a 14-point resolutionin response to the Salala checkpoint attacks. The resolutioncondemns the attacks, and includes demands for an unconditionalapology from the US, an immediate cessation of drone attacks, and astop to all transport of arms and ammunition through Pakistan. The foreign policy review process was an attempt by the parliamentto regain control over the country's foreign policy, which hashistorically been set by the country's military. It was passedafter several months debate, and under a broad coalition of partiesacross the political spectrum. We need to make sure that we follow the recommendations of theparliament in our negotiations with the US. I am hopeful that wecan come to a mutually satisfying agreement, says Mr. Chaudhury. US not budging on apology The US, however, does not seem to be budging on the question of anapology. We have expressed our deepest condolences on this event,and are working hard to ensure that this event does not happenagain, says the spokesperson for the US State Department in Islamabad , Mark Stroh. The unlikelihood that some of the core demands of the resolutionwill be met, has given opposition parties especially thosecritical of US foreign policy ammunition against the currentnegotiations. We believe that Pakistan has suffered enormously because of thisso-called war against terror. That is why we are calling for an endto the partnership. We do not want to see any NATO supply routesreopened, because we believe that is equal to aiding the US wareffort in Afghanistan. We will only reopen them, if it facilitatesthe withdrawal of foreign troops from our region, says ShafqatMehmood, the spokesperson for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI).The party is led by the former cricket star-turned-politician, Imran Khan , who has earned political points on his criticism of US foreignpolicy. Raza Rumi, director of the Islamabad-based Jinnah Institute, sayspublic sentiment is a reflection of an irrational and impracticalapproach to the country's foreign policy and national interest. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China High Alumina Brick , Insulation Rock Wool Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Insulation Refractory today!
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