Islamabad, May 14: Pakistan today said it was time to "move on" and mend relations with the US, signalling a climb-down from its demand for an unconditional American apology for reopening key NATO supply routes to Afghanistan.
 "It was important to make a point. Pakistan has made the point and we now need to move on and go into a positive zone of trying to conduct our relations," Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said.
 Khar made the comments during a news conference when she was asked about reopening supply routes to Afghanistan that were closed after the cross border NATO raid in November last year that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
 Khar's remarks assume significance as they came a day before a meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, Pakistan's highest decision-making body on security issues, that is expected to discuss the reopening of the supply routes and the country's participation in a NATO Summit in Chicago during May 20-21.
 "As far as the question of an apology is concerned, parliament has categorically said that the government should seek an apology from the US. We have (sought) an apology from the US," she said in response to another question about Pakistan's demand for an unconditional apology for the NATO attack.
 Khar did not say whether Islamabad would insist on the apology. 
 Official sources told PTI that President Asif Ali Zardari was not averse to participating in the NATO Summit if Pakistan and the US are able to agree on some sort of face-saving arrangement.
 Khar's remarks seemed to indicate that the government is preparing the grounds for reopening the supply routes, a key condition for participating in the NATO Summit.
 The Foreign Minister said Pakistan needs "closure" on the issue of the NATO air strike so that the country could "move on" with the task of resetting relations with the US.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 IST