NATO invites Zardari to Chicago summit

Islamabad: NATO on Tuesday invited the Pakistani president to next week's summit in Chicago, as Islamabad looked poised to end a nearly six-month blockade on NATO supplies for Afghanistan, officials said.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said President Asif Ali Zardari would take part in the second day of the summit which will focus on Afghanistan, where coalition combat troops are planning to withdraw by the end of 2014.

The talks "will underline the strong commitment of the international community to the people of Afghanistan and to the country's future. Pakistan has an important role to play in that future," she said.

The defence committee of Pakistan's cabinet is meeting on Tuesday, followed by a cabinet meeting on Wednesday which is widely expected to decide to reopen overland NATO supply lines into Afghanistan closed since November.

"We're working very closely with Pakistan to allow the opening of the transit line because obviously this is in everybody's interest," said Mr Lungescu.

Asked if Mr Zardari would go to Chicago, a spokesman for the Pakistani presidency said he would first wait for the cabinet defence committee meeting.