Islamabad (ANTARA News/Xinhua-OANA) - Pakistan`s Interior Minister Rehman Malik has categorically denied the U.S. claim that the country`s air space is being used for sending supplies to NATO- led forces in Afghanistan following the closure of land supply route by Pakistan, local media reported.

Addressing a Senate session on Friday, Malik said that NATO supplies have not been restored by using airport or airbase in Pakistan, the Nation newspaper reported.

Neither Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani nor President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered the resumption of NATO supplies through airspace, he said.

The minister said that he will ask the foreign or defense minister to present a comprehensive briefing on the issue to the house.

Talking to media on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter said that the supply to NATO-led forces in Afghanistan is being airlifted through Pakistani air space.

Pakistan blocked NATO supply route through its territory after a cross-border air strike by U.S. helicopters on two Pakistani checkpoints left 24 soldiers dead in November last year.

Pakistani parliament will decide whether or not to reopen the land supply route after review of relationship with the U.S.
(U.H-AK)

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