Pakistan said securing Afghan supply lines

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The Pakistani military is making progress against Taliban militants threatening Pakistan-to-Afghanistan supply routes, U.S. military officials said Friday.

Pakistani military actions against the militants operating in the Khyber Pass provide "security of the Peshawar (supply) terminals and our supply lines," said U.S. Army Col. Jerry O'Hara in an interview with American Forces Press Service.

News reports indicate the Khyber Pass opened Friday.

The Pakistani operation began Tuesday, targeting militants that have been attacking some supply convoys along the Khyber Pass.

"We certainly welcome that kind of cooperation we're seeing," said State Department spokesman Fred Lash, noting he understands that Pakistani forces "are making good progress" against the militants.

The Khyber Pass supply route was temporarily closed when the Pakistani offensive began, but the closure had "no immediate impact on our ability to provide supplies to the troops" in Afghanistan, U.S., Afghan and NATO military officials said in a joint statement.