Pak PM visits White House amid calls for Pak to end violence
Pakistani Prime Minister's White House visit comes amid increased calls by senior US officials for Pakistan to stop militants from staging cross-border attacks on US forces in Afghanistan.
By Agencies |
WASHINGTON: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's White House visit Monday comes amid increased calls by senior US officials for Pakistan to stop militants from staging cross-border attacks on US forces in Afghanistan.
The prime minister may have his own issues to raise in his talks with President George W Bush: Gilani visits Washington at a tense moment in ties between the countries in the aftermath of a US airstrike last month that killed 11 Pakistani border troops.
Many in Washington have expressed frustration with the new Pakistani government's pursuit of peace deals with tribes along the lawless Pakistani-Afghan border.
Critics say the deals have removed military pressure from the region and allowed terrorists to regroup and stage attacks on US forces operating in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has resisted suggestions that US or other foreign troops should be allowed into the remote region to combat militants.
The new Pakistani government won elections in February against the party of President Pervez Musharraf, a staunch U.S. ally and former army chief.
Pakistan officials say they are working to strike agreements that would require the tribes to give up their weapons, withdraw support for foreign fighters and end attacks across the border.
US and Afghan officials say Taliban fighters are sheltering in Pakistan.
Militants based in Pakistani tribal areas, where Osama bin Laden and his top aide are believed to be hiding, have said they are sending fighters to Afghanistan.
The prime minister may have his own issues to raise in his talks with President George W Bush: Gilani visits Washington at a tense moment in ties between the countries in the aftermath of a US airstrike last month that killed 11 Pakistani border troops.
Many in Washington have expressed frustration with the new Pakistani government's pursuit of peace deals with tribes along the lawless Pakistani-Afghan border.
Critics say the deals have removed military pressure from the region and allowed terrorists to regroup and stage attacks on US forces operating in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has resisted suggestions that US or other foreign troops should be allowed into the remote region to combat militants.
The new Pakistani government won elections in February against the party of President Pervez Musharraf, a staunch U.S. ally and former army chief.
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Pakistan officials say they are working to strike agreements that would require the tribes to give up their weapons, withdraw support for foreign fighters and end attacks across the border.
US and Afghan officials say Taliban fighters are sheltering in Pakistan.
Militants based in Pakistani tribal areas, where Osama bin Laden and his top aide are believed to be hiding, have said they are sending fighters to Afghanistan.
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