The drone strikes have continued as the U.S. and Pakistan remain at odds over the reopening of NATO supply routes for the war in Afghanistan. On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Pakistan’s closure is costing the U.S. an additional $100 million a month. The talks have stalemated over a number of issues including the U.S. refusal to apologize for an air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops last year. In Islamabad, Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar denied claims that a Pakistani demand for higher tariffs on the routes is preventing an agreement.

Hina Rabbani Khar: “Pakistan is not in any sort of a price-gouging debate right now. So these impressions are indeed incorrect and and must be dispersed as soon as possible. We are — as we said, the U.S. side knows very well as to what are the needs and requirements for us to enable us to move in that direction, to enable us to take that decision (to reopen the routes). So I would like to keep it at that.”