Washington, Apr 26 (AFP) US President Barack Obama today gathered top national security and intelligence staff for his regular review of Afghan and Pakistan strategy, amid suggestions of fresh tensions with Islamabad.

The talks, in the secure Situation Room of the White House, went ahead amid a rumbling US disagreement with Islamabad on the fight against militants in the volatile Afghan-Pakistan border region.

At Obama's side in the talks were Defense Secretary Robert Gates, UN ambassador Susan Rice, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and James Clapper, his director of national intelligence.

Vice President Joe Biden, top Afghan war General David Petraeus and the US ambassadors to Pakistan and Afghanistan joined the session via secure video-link, the White House said.

On Saturday, Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Kayani said that the "backbone" of Islamist militants in Pakistan had been broken, despite US criticisms of his country's strategy against Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked rebels.