Pakistan and the United States reached a deal Tuesday to reopen routes that NATO uses to supply troops in Afghanistan. The agreement ends a seven-month closure imposed after 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed by NATO forces in a cross-border attack last November.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER RAJA PERVEZ ASHRAF SAYING:

"As we review our position on the Ground Lines of Communications (GLOC), we have to be mindful of the following four factors: The issue of our support to the transition process in Afghanistan, and how best to facilitate that; the continued closure of supply lines not only impinge(s) on our relationship with the U.S., but also on our relations with the 49 other member states of NATO/ISAF; eventual exit - exit of international forces from Afghanistan is in the interest of longer term peace and stability in the region; and Pakistan should be seen as a responsible and cooperative member of the international community."

The Pakistani routes into Afghanistan will become even more important as NATO prepares to withdraw most of its troops by the end of 2014.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters