Pakistan on Tuesday night announced that it is reopening land routes for NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan after U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, apologized over the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in last November airstrike, the country's Information Minister, Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira said.

The decision was taken at a meeting of top civilian and military leaders after series of talks between the American and Pakistani officials, the Information Minister told reporters after the meeting.

Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, presided over the meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC), which was called to exclusively discuss the reopening of the supply routes.

Pakistan closed NATO supply line in last November to protest over the killing of its 24 soldiers in a U.S. airstrike on Pakistani border posts.

The DCC meeting welcomed Clinton's apology over the killing of Pakistani soldiers, the Minister said, adding that Pakistan's decision will facilitate the transition process in Afghanistan.

Pakistan had been demanding U.S. apology for months but the U.S. had earlier refused to apologize and American officials were saying that only 'regret' was enough.

"We are sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani military," Hillary Clinton said in a statement posted on the website of the State Department.

Pakistan's move will ensure stability in Afghanistan, Kaira said.

He said the DCC decided that no lethal weapons will be allowed to be transported through Pakistan. However, he said that the equipment will only be allowed for the Afghan National Army.

According to an official statement, Prime Minister in his opening remarks told the meeting that the continued closure of supply lines not only impinges on Pakistan's relationship with the U.S., but also on " our relations with the 49 other member states of NATO/ISAF."

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet