Washington, Feb 18 : The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael, G. Mullen has said the military is only part of the solution in the war on terror in Pakistan.

Admiral Mullen, who visited Pakistan last week, was speaking the short and long-term challenges facing the US military at a meeting of military analysts at the Pentagon.

Admiral Mullen said: "Part of the long, enduring conflict that we are in is going to be tied to winning the ideological war," he added, "I'm a big believer in relationships."

Admiral Mullen said he had a good visit to Pakistan and the meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, General Ashfaq Kayani, was particularly useful.

"The sacrifices of the Pakistan Army have made in fighting this war made me clear, and I appreciate their sacrifices and the relationship we have and we need to continue to nurture," Admiral Mullen said.

He further said that the Pakistanis now understand the danger religious extremists pose to their country and are working to establish a counter-insurgency effort in the federally-administered tribal areas.

Admiral Mullen, who also visited Afghanistan, characterised the progress in the war against terror in that country as mixed.

He said the insurgency is growing, noting that the US President Bush's decision to send 3,200 Marines to the country beginning in March is an indication of Washington's concern about Afghanistan.

He said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries need to meet their commitments in Afghanistan.

"The United States wants its NATO allies to send more troops to Afghanistan and also has urged those who already have troops there to allow them to participate in battles against the Taliban and Al Qaeda militants," he added.

Despite US efforts, he said some NATO countries are still reluctant to increase their participation in the US-led war in Afghanistan.

Looking to the future, he said he worries about what happens after operations in Iraq and Afghanistan finish, noting that the ends of other wars led to drastic military downsizing, making it difficult to meet the next challenge that inevitably has arisen.

ANI