Pakistan will begin charging the United States about $60 million a month for logistical support it has provided to the war on terrorism, the finance minister said after a trip to Washington. Shaukat Aziz said late Saturday that Pakistan was "in the process" of billing Washington $300 million for support through the end of January.

After that, Pakistan will issue monthly bills that will average $60 million, Aziz said.

"We will bill them monthly for certain things under the acquisition and cross-services agreement," Aziz said. Pakistan will charge for fuel, food, water, transportation, medical services, repairs and other services provided to US forces, who have been engaged in neighboring Afghanistan since early October.

Pakistan broke ranks with Afghanistan's hardline Taliban and sided with the United States after the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, blamed on Afghan-based Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. Aziz also said that during his trip to Washington with President Pervez Musharraf, George W. Bush's administration pledged to write off $1 billion of Pakistan's $2.8 billion loan debt to the United States.
The United States has since September 11 promised Pakistan an aid package worth more than $1 billion, $600 million of which has already been delivered.

Bureau Report