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The US defense secretary said that in his view the UN charter allows the United States to act in self-defense against international extremists in Pakistan if its government is unable or unwilling to deal with them.

"We will do what is necessary to protect our troops, but it is every important to engage the Pakistani government," he told lawmakers.

Gates and General James Cartwright, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there were signs of improved cooperation with the Pakistanis despite the frictions.

"I think the threat that they are seeing ... creates the opportunity where we can work together and there is no necessity for us to take any actions to protect our troops along those lines," Gates said.

Recent Pakistani military operations in northwestern border area was having a positive impact, he added.

Cartwright said there also has been "an uptick" in Pakistan's willingness to participate in border control centers where US, Afghan and Pakistani military personnel share intelligence and coordinate actions in the border.