AP

Supporters of Pakistani religious party Sunni Tehreek rally against the US in Hyderabad.

Islamabad - Pakistani political leaders hold all-party talks on Thursday to address growing American demands on Islamabad to tackle Islamic militants and the possibility that the United States might take unilateral military steps in the country.

Support is growing in the US Congress for expanding American military action in Pakistan beyond the drone strikes that already target militants in Pakistani territory, a senior Republican senator said.

The comments by Senator Lindsey Graham, an influential Republican voice on foreign policy and military affairs, follow remarks by the top US military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, accusing Pakistan last week of supporting the militant Haqqani network's Sept. 13 attack on the US embassy in Kabul.

Islamabad, which has received billions of dollars of US aid despite its reluctance to go after the Haqqani network, faces the most intense pressure to tackle militancy since it joined the US “war on terror” a decade ago.

Pakistan's military faced withering public criticism after the United States' unilateral raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani garrison town in May.

A similar US operation against militant leaders in North Waziristan on the Afghan border, where American officials say the Haqqanis are based, would be another humiliation for the powerful military, which sets security and foreign policy.

Graham said in an interview with Reuters that US lawmakers might support military options beyond drone strikes that have been going on for years inside Pakistani territory.

Those options may include using US bomber planes within Pakistan. The South Carolina Republican said he did not advocate sending US ground troops into Pakistan.

“I would say when it comes to defending American troops, you don't want to limit yourself,” Graham said. “This is not a boots-on-the-ground engagement - I'm not talking about that, but we have a lot of assets beyond drones.”

Graham said US lawmakers will think about stepping up the military pressure. “If people believe it's gotten to the point that that is the only way really to protect our interests, I think there would be a lot of support,” he said.

Pakistan and the United States have been allies for decades. But their relationship is marred by mistrust. Pakistan, regarded as critical to US efforts to stabilise Afghanistan, is often described as an unreliable partner.

Following US accusations that some in the Pakistani government have aided anti-US militants, Congress is re-evaluating its 2009 promise to triple non-military aid to Pakistan to a total of $7.5 billion over five years.

The non-military aid came on top of billions in security assistance Washington has provided since 2001, and is now rethinking as well.

Any unilateral US military action would deepen anti-American sentiment which already runs high in Pakistan over drone strikes and other issues.

Many people question why thousands of Pakistani soldiers have died fighting what they believe is strictly America's war on militants since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Pakistani politicians will have those sentiments in mind when they formulate a message for the United States in the all-party talks.

The head of Pakistan's military spy service, Lieutenant-general Ahmad Shuja Pasha, is expected to brief the meeting of politicians on discussions with American officials over strained ties.

His comments are likely to indicate whether the security establishment, which was infuriated by allegations it is actively supporting the Haqqanis, will harden its stand or seek reconciliation with the Americans.

Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, arguably the most powerful man in Pakistan, is expected to attend the talks.

The Haqqani network is allied with Afghanistan's Taliban and is believed to have close links to al-Qaeda. It fights US and NATO forces in eastern Afghanistan.

The group's leader says it is no longer based in North Waziristan and feels secure operating in Afghanistan after making battlefield gains.

Pakistan has vowed to help all sides create peace in Afghanistan, but Kabul has been deeply distrustful of Islamabad's objectives.

Cross-border fire and militant raids have further raised tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months as they battle a stubborn insurgency by Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in their countries.

Pakistani troops exchanged mortar fire with forces across the border in Afghanistan on Thursday.

A Pakistani military spokesman said troops earlier this week killed up to 35 militants who had crossed the border and attacked Pakistani forces who were setting up checkpoints on possible infiltration routes. - Reuters