US strikes deal with Russia to get supplies to troops in Afghanistan

THE US has struck deals with Russia and neighbouring countries allowing it to transport supplies to American troops in Afghanistan through their territory, the head of US Central Command said yesterday.

Most supplies for US and NATO troops must first pass through northern Pakistan via the Arabian Sea port of Karachi, a treacherous route sometimes closed because of attacks by Islamist militants.

Opening up supply lines in the north is seen as especially important now because the US is expected to nearly double its number of troops in Afghanistan to 60,000 over the coming year to battle a growing Taliban insurgency.

US Gen David Petraeus said: “We have sought additional logistical routes into Afghanistan from the north. There have been agreements reached, and there are transit lines now and transit agreements for commercial goods and services in particular that include several of the countries in the Central Asian states and also Russia.”

Petraeus said he had reached transit deals with Russia and several other Central Asian states on a recent tour of the region.

Also yesterday police said suspected Taliban militants killed six alleged US spies in a lawless region of north-west Pakistan where American missile attacks have reportedly killed several al-Qaida leaders in recent months.