We Blinked

Pakistan agreed Tuesday to reopen supply routes to the U.S.-led NATO force in Afghanistan after the United States apologized for the first time for inadvertently killing 24 Pakistani troops who were manning two border posts last November, signaling a new attempt by the nominal allies to repair their severely damaged relationship.

The Obama administration also agreed to ask Congress to reimburse Pakistan $1 billion for the costs of operations against al-Qaida and other terrorist groups, said a U.S. official, who requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the issue publicly.

There was no indication, however, that either side had budged on its major demand for restoring cooperation, making it uncertain how far the apparent reconciliation bid may go. The United States wants Pakistan to drop a refusal to move against sanctuaries within its borders from which the Afghan Taliban and their allies wage their insurgency in Afghanistan; Pakistan is demanding an end to missile strikes on those sanctuaries by U.S. drone aircraft, which it charges violate its sovereignty and kill civilians.

[...]

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced […] she had apologized by telephone to Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.
  McClatchy via Record Online