Afghan supply route deal

Russia and neighbouring Central Asian nations have agreed to let supplies pass through their territory to American soldiers in Afghanistan, lessening Washington’s dependence on dangerous routes through Pakistan, US Central Command chief General David Petraeus said.

Securing alternative routes to landlocked Afghanistan has taken on added urgency this year as America prepares to double troop numbers there to 60,000 to battle a resurgent Taliban eight years after the US-led invasion.