Pakistani prime minister embarks on crucial US visit

Islamabad - Pakistan's new Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday left for a four-day official visit to Washington where he will discuss terrorism President George W. Bush and other US leaders. Gilani's visit comes amid growing US frustration over Pakistan's inability in containing Taliban's cross border attacks from its tribal belt into Afghanistan on NATO-led international forces. 'We are fighting the war against terrorism because it is in our own national interest,' he told reporters at Islamabad airport before flying for London, from where he will depart on Sunday for Washington after an overnight stay. Gilani's coalition government opened peace talks with the Islamic militants through tribal elders in March when it took over after defeating President Pervez Musharraf's political allies. The move led to a sharp decline in suicide bombings which badly hit the country during 2007 and early 2008, but it helped Taliban in increasing their influence in tribal areas as well as parts of North- West Frontier Province, raising concerns in Western capitals. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith Friday urged Pakistan to do more to curb the 'flow of militants across its border into Afghanistan.' Analysts believe Gilani might face tough talk as he meets Bush on Monday. 'President Bush might warn him if Pakistan does not take hard action against Taliban in tribal region then US forces would do,' said Pakistan's former foreign secretary Tanveer Ahmad Khan. But Gilani told reporters on Friday that he would not take any dictation from Bush. 'There will be no compromise on the country's dignity and self-respect,' he was quoted as saying by the English- language newspaper Dawn. The two leaders will also discuss means to enhance cooperation in the areas of areas of defense, intelligence sharing, education, health, science and technology, and agriculture. Pakistani premier is also expected to have separate meetings with senator John McCain and senator Barack Obama, the presumptive presidential nominees of the Republican and Democratic parties, respectively, according to an official statement.