BRUSSELS: Nato says it will invite Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to the alliance’s summit in Chicago, after the country’s foreign minister proposed reopening its Afghan border to Nato military supplies.

Spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said Tuesday the summit on May 20-21 will underline the international community’s commitment to the future of Afghanistan and that Pakistan has an important role to play in that future.

Supply routes through Pakistan have been closed for nearly six months in retaliation for US airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani troops.

This forced Nato to reorient its entire logistics chain through Russia and Central Asia.

The routes through Pakistan are seen as vital as Nato begins to pull out of Afghanistan.