Washington - President George W Bush met with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday as Washington seeks to pressure the Pakistani government to crackdown on militants responsible for attacks on US forces in Afghanistan. The issue has been a source of tension between the two countries, with the United States sceptical of efforts by the Pakistanis to secure peace deals with tribal leaders in remote areas of the country used by militants to launch cross-border raids into Afghanistan.
"We talked about the need for us to make sure that the, you know, Afghan border is secure as best as possible. Pakistan's made a very strong commitment to that," Bush said, adding the security in Afghanistan was also vital for Pakistan.
Gilani appeared with Bush on the White House lawn and the Pakistanis are committed to ridding the country of the militants that also pose a threat to Pakistan's security.
"We'll fight for our own cause," Gilani said.
The meeting came as a suspected US airstrike in Pakistan Monday killed six people, including three militants, Pakistani authorities confirmed. The US government did not comment on the strike.
The Bush administration has been frustrated by what it believes is too slow a response by Islamabad to the ability of al-Qaeda and the Taliban to seek refuge in the tribal areas and launch attacks into neighbouring Afghanistan.
Washington has also noted the past peace agreements with the tribal leaders have failed to halt the violence and only make it easier for the Taliban to operate.
Gilani's government came to power in February after defeating President Pervez Musharraf's party in parliamentary elections. Musharraf has been a close and perhaps the most important US ally in the war on terrorism.
