NEW DELHI, Feb 25: Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said on Friday he would like his country to become a member of the seven-member Saarc. And he immediately got a crucial nod from Pakistan, with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz saying: "We would certainly support Afghanistan as a member of this august body."

President Karzai was speaking at an international conclave organized by India Today magazine, when he was asked to comment on the prospects of Kabul joining Saarc. Mr Aziz spoke to the concalve through a TV link. The Afghan leader spelt out his ties with India and Pakistan and proceeded to say he would be honoured to be invited to join Saarc.

He said Pakistan had been a good host to him during the struggle against Soviet occupation of his country, while India had been the place where he went to school. He thus had an excellent relationship with both countries.

Earlier in the conference, President Karzai expressed Afghanistan's deep interest in becoming a conduit to a gas pipeline project from Central Asia to Pakistan and, "if possible", to India.