Brussels, Jul 4 (IANS): NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Tuesday welcomed Pakistan's announcement on opening ground supply lines to Afghanistan.

"The resumption of transit arrangements for ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) supplies through Pakistan demonstrates strengthened cooperation between ISAF nations and our partner Pakistan," Xinhua quoted Rasmussen as saying.

"Pakistan has an important role to play in supporting a secure Afghanistan in a stable region," he said in a statement. "As ISAF nations agreed at the Chicago Summit, regional cooperation is key to promoting a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan."

Pakistan had blocked the supply lines after a cross-border NATO airstrike last November targeting militants had mistakenly killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Pakistan Tuesday night announced that it is reopening the land routes to neighbouring Afghanistan after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apologized for the killing.