On Thursday, July 5, 2012 many international news agencies reported in bold that "US apology opened up NATO supply routes" into Afghanistan which remained closed for eight consecutive months after the US drone attacks left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead last year in tribal agency area, bordering Afghanistan.

Right after the incident, the already widespread anti-American sentiment burst up in the country and some US diplomats and secret service agents were expelled. The country started boiling in series of anti-American demonstration and Islamabad officials took uncompromising stance and labeled the attack as violation of national sovereignty.

However, right after the incident top American officials, including President Barack Obama, expressed their deep regret but Islamabad did not step back. The process led to further deterioration of bilateral relation and Washington suspended part of its military financial support which is important for Pakistan to deal with the growing insurgent groups.

Perhaps, if the Washington had apologized earlier, the two countries would have remained as friend and tense atmosphere would not have lasted. It should be noticed that apology came as a surprise. As mentioned, US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton formally apologized from her Pakistani counterpart, Hina Rabbani Khar, through phone call which, many interpreted, as a success for Pakistan's diplomacy. The question is why it took Washington officials months to change their mind and apologize for a mistake?

Certainly, Pakistan is a cheap route for NATO supplies. During past eleven years, on occasions, top military officials openly voiced criticism of what they brand as "inactivity of Islamabad" against Taliban and al-Qaeda elements.

With many problematic issues and widespread mistrust, US and its allies were trying their most to maintain relation with Islamabad in order to supply their armies in the country. After the closure of Pakistan route, efforts made to decrease dependence on Pakistan through holding negotiation with Russia and central Asia republics.

Seemingly, those diplomatic wrangling has not proved fruitful as Central Asian countries and Washington's reciprocal relation is linked with their global standings and loss of 100 million dollars monthly was much more costly as compare to the supply routes through Pakistan.