Resume Nato supplies, Karzai tells Pakistan

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Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Friday asked Pakistan to resume NATO supplies that were suspended after airstrikes last year left two dozen soldiers dead, a media report said.

Karzai urged Pakistan to resume NATO supplies and suggested that it charge higher levy as it will benefit both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Geo News reported from his breakfast meeting with senior journalists here.

Karzai is in Islamabad for a one-day trilateral summit between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.

The airstrikes Nov 26 last year on two Pakistani Army checkposts in Mohmand Agency in the northwest region killed two dozen soldiers, sparking outrage in Pakistan.

Islamabad promptly barred the passage of NATO supplies through the country and decided to boycott an international conference focussed on the future course of action in Afghanistan.

It also told the US to vacate the key Shamsi airbase in Balochistan that was used to launch drone strikes.

To a query on the US-Taliban talks, the Afghan leader said that they were aware of US-Taliban contacts but would decide where to hold Afghan-Taliban talks.

The Taliban can open office in Qatar but Kabul will hold talks in Turkey or Saudi Arabia with them, he said.

On Indian influence in Afghanistan, Karzai said Pakistan does not have to worry as Pakistan and India are already engaged in trade agreements.

Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, who is accompanied by business leaders of more than 100 Indian companies, has wrapped up a four-day trip to Pakistan that began on Monday.