Zardari leaves for US to attend NATO summit

Islamabad, May 18 (IANS) President Asif Ali Zardari has left for Chicago to attend a NATO summit as Pakistan mulls the reopening of supplies for the coalition forces in Afghanistan, a media report said Friday.

Zardari will be in Chicago for the 25th NATO Summit being held May 20-21 at the invitation of NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, reported Geo News.

The Foreign Office said the decision to attend the summit was taken after both the defence committee of cabinet and federal cabinet endorsed the invitation.

Zardari would address an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) meeting.

Pakistan had cut off the NATO supply route after an airstrike in November last year in Salala near the Afghanistan border left two dozen Pakistan Army soldiers dead. US has been holding talks with Islamabad for an early reopening of the route.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar Wednesday had said that reopening NATO supplies was in the interest of Pakistan.

"The restoration of NATO supplies will be strictly in accordance with the resolution adopted by the parliament," she said on a TV programme.

"Pakistan wants an apology from America on Salala incident.

"Restoration of NATO supplies is in the interest of Pakistan. There is no hidden agreement behind the reopening of NATO routes," she added.