US President Barack Obama has warned of “hard days ahead” at a Nato summit in Chicago dominated by the issue of withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Some Nato members have pledged aid to help Afghan forces tackle the Taliban insurgency on their own. France’s new President Francois Hollande has again said he will pull French troops out by the end of 2012, nearly two years ahead of schedule. The meeting continues for a second day on Monday with discussion about how much money is needed to continue to support Afghanistan and who pays.

NATO Trying to convince Pakistan

Talks are also due to take place with President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan over the re-opening of supply routes through his country to Afghanistan.  Obama administration is hoping that President Zardari will agree to reopen key Nato supply routes through Pakistan into Afghanistan, which were closed in November after US air strikes killed Pakistani troops. Pakistan’s co-operation is regarded as key to the success of the international mission in Afghanistan, as 130,000 US-led troops fight a Taliban insurgency.

Hamid Karzai: NATO withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his country was fully aware of its responsibilities.