NATO could send men and supplies to Afghanistan by flying them over the North Pole because of the closure of European airspace forced by an Icelandic volcano, a senior US official said Monday, DPA reported.
Russia already allows NATO to fly men and equipment to Afghanistan through its airspace. On April 11, Kazakhstan agreed to provide the same clearance.
The decision by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is "even more important, given the volcanic ash: it opens up the possibility of the (North) Polar route for lethal equipment and troops to be shipped into Afghanistan," the US official said.
The US is leading NATO efforts to boost its forces in Afghanistan so that they can deal a lethal blow to the Taliban-led insurgency.
NATO is tipped to send almost 40,000 new troops to the country this year, two-thirds of them from the US. They are expected to use a variety of routes, including the one via Russia and Kazakhstan.
"With the closure of airspace in Europe, it becomes even more important that we can do that," the official said.
"Russian assistance is therefore absolutely critical and very welcome," he said.
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