Pakistan will reopen crucial supply routes to Nato-led forces in Afghanistan.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the announcement in Washington after talks by phone with her Pakistani counterpart, Hina Rabbani Khar.

Islamabad had closed the supply line following an airstrike strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November.

However, Mrs Clinton said in a statement: “I offered our sincere condolences to the families of the Pakistani soldiers who lost their lives.

“Foreign Minister Khar and I acknowledged the mistakes that resulted in the loss of Pakistani military lives.

“We are sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani military. We are committed to working closely with Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent this from ever happening again.”

Pakistan confirmed the Nato supply lines would reopen and that it would not raise transit fees when the lines re-open.