CHICAGO: Pakistan said Monday it has ordered negotiators to conclude a deal with the United States to reopen vital supply routes to Nato convoys, as the alliance's chief expressed optimism that an agreement was near.

In a speech to leaders from countries in the Nato-led force in Afghanistan, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said the cabinet's Defense Committee “decided to direct the relevant officials to conclude negotiations for resumption of the Ground Lines of Communication” needed to supply foreign troops in Afghanistan.

Islamabad shut the supply routes in November after a US air strike left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead.

The routes are a crucial logistical link for Nato as it plans a withdrawal of combat troops by the end of 2014. But US officials have rejected Pakistani proposals to charge steep fees on alliance trucks passing over the border.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters that he expected Pakistan eventually to reopen the border crossing to allied convoys despite failing to reach a deal at a summit in Chicago.

“We didn't expect an agreement on the Pakistan transit routes to be reached at this summit. That was not planned,” Rasmussen said.

But he added: “I express some optimism as regards the possibility to see a reopening of transit routes in the very near future.” In his address, Zadari called the botched air raid “a serious setback” that “required that we review our engagement and cooperation.” The Pakistani parliament “has spoken in favor of cooperation and a partnership approach,” he said.

Moreover, US President Barack Obama also met briefly on the sidelines of the summit with President Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The three leaders met after a larger meeting focused on Afghanistan's future.

The US and Pakistani officials have been in talks to reopen the supply lines, but the negotiations are stalled.

US officials say that while they expect the issue to be resolved, they did not believe that would happen while leaders were gathered in Chicago for the Nato summit.