Terming the imposition of emergency in Pakistan as disturbing, American Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Monday said the United States was reviewing all its assistance programmes to Islamabad [ Images ] and urged President Pervez Musharraf [ Images ] to restore democratic rule.

"The actions of the past 72 hours have been disturbing. We urge President Musharraf to return his country to law-based, constitutional and democratic rule as soon as possible," Gates said.

The American defence secretary's assertions follow similar comments by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice [ Images ] in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Gates said Washington was "closely" watching the situation in Pakistan which was a country of "great strategic importance" to the US and a key partner in the war on terror.

"We are reviewing all of our assistance programmes, although we are mindful not to do anything that would undermine on-going counter-terrorism efforts," Gates, who began a six-day Asian tour, said.

He said, "Because of the fluid and sensitive nature of the situation, I will have nothing further to say on this topic at this time."

During the talks, China and the US decided to establish direct military hotline between the Pentagon [ Images ] and Chinese defence ministry and to deepen military-to-military dialogue.

Gates is scheduled to meet Chinese president Hu Jintao on Tuesday before leaving for South Korea and Japan [ Images ].