US military in contact with new Pak leaders: Gates

LONDON: US defence secretary Robert Gates has said American military chiefs were in close contact with the new Pakistani leadership and the "most productive path" in dealing with al-Qaeda, Taliban and other insurgents was in cooperation with that country, says a report in British media.

Gates was in the British capital for the NATO Defence Ministers meeting. The media said the US is seeking $20bn from its allies to help stabilise Afghanistan as it plans to send thousands more of its own troops to confront the growing insurgency in the country.