US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said the transition in Afghanistan beginning July 2011 would be on the formula which was earlier followed in Iraq. American forces had gradually handed over the regions in Iraq to the local security forces in phases. In his speech on Tuesday, President Obama had announced that the US forces would start withdrawal and transition in Afghanistan in July of 2011. Gates told US lawmakers at a Congressional briefing on Wednesday that the Bush administration accepted firm deadlines for the withdrawal of US forces in Iraq, whereas Obama has proposed a timeline for the beginning of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.Speaking about Pakistan, Robert Gates said that despite taking strong military action against militants in recent months, the Pakistani establishment has maintained relationship with those extremist groups. He said Pakistan has maintained some of those contacts because of their uncertainty whether the US would be a reliable partner and ally.