US Senators liken Pak's 5000 dollar per NATO truck demand to 'extortion'

Washington, May 24 (ANI): U.S. Senators John McCain and Carl Levin, the chair and ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have said the U.S. should not pay up to 5,000 dollars per truck to Pakistan, which McCain termed as "extortion", to resume NATO supplies into Afghanistan through its territory. "We can't look at aid in that light. It is now becoming a matter of principle," The News quoted senator McCain, as saying. Senator Carl Levin said the U.S. should not pay Pakistan fees anywhere near that level, the paper states. The reactions from the senators come in the wake of a New York Times report which stated that Pakistan wanted upwards of 5,000 dollars for each truck that passed through its territory, whereas the fees paid prior to the Salala attack was about 250 dollars per truck. (ANI)