WASHINGTON, July 20: The United States has offered intelligence and military assistance to Pakistan for operations against militants in the tribal region linked to Al Qaeda, CNN reported.

The offer was confirmed by Gen Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a visit to Germany, the report said.

Stratfor, a major US think-tank and security agency, reported on Friday that ‘the stage is being set for a major joint US-Pakistani operation in the NWFP’.

In the heat of the coming battles between Pakistani forces and militants in the NWFP and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the US would carry out its operations to minimise fallout, the report said.

The CNN quoted the general as saying that President George Bush’s ‘administration is now offering Pakistan military assistance for its operations against the Al Qaeda safe haven in its tribal region.’

The network added that Washington was offering both intelligence and ‘US firepower’ but not American troops.

It remained unclear if Pakistan had accepted the offer, the report said.

“Those that speak the right language, that have the right skills, that have the right base that they could come to the US, fit into the population, and then use some of the training that they receive in the Pakistani area,” said Mike McConnell, Director of the US National Intelligence.

Meanwhile, White House spokesman Tony Snow once again declined to rule out the possibility of US military strikes against suspected militant targets in Pakistan.

Asked at a regular briefing on Friday whether President Bush would seek permission from his Pakistani counterpart before such operations, Mr Snow said: “Those are matters that are best not discussed publicly.” His remarks followed an offer by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to help Pakistan in its offensive.