WASHINGTON: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is going to increase its engagement with Pakistan, seeking a more in depth relationship with a country plagued by terrorism and instability, says the US military chief.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a congressional hearing on Thursday afternoon that other similar international organisations will also seek to broaden their relations with Pakistan.

‘Where I see Nato going is increasingly toward a broader and more in depth relationship with Pakistan, because of the common interests,’ he told a Senate panel.

Nato is a military alliance headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party.

While Nato is not going to offer membership to Pakistan, diplomatic observers in Washington say that the alliance may offer greater training facilities to Islamabad and may also offer equipment to enhance its counter-insurgency capabilities.

Admiral Mullen recalled that the chairman of the military committee in Nato invited Pakistan’s army chief General Ashfaq Kayani to the committee last year. ‘He came and laid out you a very clear view’ on his country’s strategy to combat terrorists before military chiefs from 28 countries.

‘There are ongoing discussions in various venues outside the military (as well) to connect more internationally through these organisations, alliances, whatever they might be,’ the admiral added.

‘And I see that as growing, and certainly the capacity in some of these other areas that other organisations have and represent are critical, and the more of that we can do, and the sooner we can do it, I think the better off we'll be.’

Earlier, Senator Johnny Isakson, a Republican, asked Admiral Mullen to comment on the news that Pakistan might want to join the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The OSCE is Europe’s primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, and crisis management. The OSCE is the world's largest regional security organisation whose 56 participating states span the geographical area from Vancouver to Vladivostok.

Senator Isakson noted that if Pakistan joined the OSCE, the organisation could bring in resources to help build the country’s military and civilian capacity for dealing with the Taliban-led insurgency.

‘I mention that because I think your involvement here in trying to bring in more international support for nation building is a positive step in the US objectives in both Afghanistan and Pakistan,’ the senator observed and asked if the US had a workable strategy for involving the OSCE in Pakistan.

The admiral said that while he was not trying to compare the OSCE with Nato, he believed Nato was trying to broaden its relationship with Pakistan.

Already, supplies for Nato troops in Afghanistan go through Pakistan but Admiral Mullen indicated that a new relationship would enable Nato to play a more direct role inside Pakistan.