巴基斯坦总统阿西夫·阿里·扎尔达里本周可能会参加芝加哥举行的北约峰会，以谈论阿富汗的前途问题。北约的邀请到来之时，巴基斯坦民事和军事领导人正在开会讨论重开北约到阿富汗的补给线，自从巴基斯坦士兵在北约空袭中丧生后，这条线一直关闭。Jonathan Marcus报道。

The closure of the crucial supply lines means that Nato has had to rely upon more expensive and circuitous routes through central Asia and Russia. The closure marked a new low in relations between Pakistan and the alliance, worsened by disagreements about US drone strikes against militants. Such tensions are likely to continue. But the opening up for the supply routes, if they can be secured, will be important, not least for the eventual withdrawal of Nato equipment, thus troop numbers in Afghanistan begin to wind down.

这条重要的补给线关闭，意味着北约必须依靠中亚和俄罗斯境内昂贵且迂回的路线。路线关闭标志着巴基斯坦与北约关系陷入最差状态，而在美国无人机空袭武装人员的问题上的争议使双方关系更加恶化。紧张状态可能继续，如果能确保重开补给线的话，这对北约军事最终撤出是很重要的，因此阿富汗的军队数量正在减少。

The Vatican says it's received an unconditional apology from the Italian clothing company Benetton in a legal settlement over a controversial advertising campaign depicting Pope Benedict appearing to kiss a Muslim cleric. From Rome, David Willey.