PAKISTANI and US military helicopters delivered aid at a brisk pace to the earthquake-stricken region of Kashmir yesterday.

Nato is to expand its airlift of relief supplies to earthquake-hit Pakistan, but has acknowledged its humanitarian role has limits.

Nato defence ministers will this week consider the future of an alliance which has evolved into a global trouble-shooter whose missions include patrolling Afghanistan, backing African peacekeepers in Sudan and shipping humanitarian relief to the United States.

Nato nations were today expected to approve plans drawn up by the military to use alliance ships and aircraft to rush European aid to US regions hit by Hurricane Katrina.

The United States today asked Nato to take on a bigger role transporting European aid to areas hit by Hurricane Katrina, alliance officials said in Brussels.

FRENCH President Jacques Chirac has delivered a double blow to the US at the NATO summit in Turkey.

Nato was launching its elite rapid-reaction force today, a prototype unit that will eventually become a 20,000-member force able to deploy in short notice anywhere in the world.