US may be forced to fly its cargo to Afghanistan

More than a week after Pakistani officials promised Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that they would take ‘immediate action’ to resolve the problem, dozens of protesters are still gathering on the busy overland route, posing a security threat to convoys carrying US military equipment out of the war zone before combat ends a year from now. US officials said on Wednesday they have seen no effort by the Pakistanis to stop the protests, which prompted the US three weeks ago to halt NATO cargo shipments going through the Torkham border crossing and toward the port city of Karachi.

A Pakistani official says the government is looking for a peaceful settlement but notes that citizens have the right to protest as long as they are not violent.