ALMATY, Kazakhstan — The United States is in talks with Kazakhstan about using the Central Asian state as a transit point for supplies to NATO troops in Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command chief General David Petraeus said Wednesday.

NATO officials have already said the alliance wants to divert some supplies from the traditional route through Pakistan, where insurgent attacks have become more intense.

Petraeus met Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on a visit to the country Wednesday. "We have discussed Kazakhstan's contribution to the so-called Northern Transit Network, which would enable us to supply the Afghanistan troops," he told reporters after the meeting.

He said the plan would not require the establishment of a military base in the country.