By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gillani’s visit to the United States is likely to go tough as Washington is not satisfied with the efforts of Pakistan on war against terror.
Mr. Gillani embarked on 3-day official visit to the United States on Saturday, his first to the U.S since he has assumed office in March this year.
His visit comes at a time when there are concerns in Pakistan that the U.S is preparing to launch military raids in Pakistani tribal regions.
However, vast majority of Pakistani public does not think this war as their own war; rather they consider it a war against Islam.
The United States has been urging Pakistan to do more to prevent Taliban attacks in Afghanistan from their bases in the Pakistani tribal regions.
Admiral Michael Mullen, U.S Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in his recent visit to Pakistan said Pakistan needs to do more to stop the unimpeded flow of Taliban and other fighters into Afghanistan from safe havens (Tribal areas) in Pakistan.
Officials in Islamabad have said that Pakistan is not willing to support any such unilateral action by allied forces and an unauthorized attack on any Pakistani territory would be treated as an invasion.
Rahimullah Yousufzai, a senior Pakistani journalist and expert on the affairs of Pak-Afghan region, said that US wants Pakistan army to carry out operation in tribal regions but the ruling alliance in Pakistan has decided to resolve all the issue through negotiations.
He said that Prime Minster might not be able to convince US and the differences between Pakistan and US might be widened.
Pakistan will not be able to achieve any thing during this visit of the prime minister and Pakistan will have to accept what the US says, he said.
Lt. Gen (Retd) Talat Masood said that the PM would try to convince Americans that his government is an elected government which is pursuing policy supported by the masses.
The Prime Minster will buy more time to tame the extremists through a two-prong strategy, dialogue and use of force as a last resort, he said.
Professor Rasool Bakhash said that he cannot attach much expectations with the PM’s visit as the position of the prime minister is very weak in his party and he is not involved in the policy against war on terror mentally.
Dr. Tanvir Ahmed Khan, former foreign secretary, said that the possibility of surgical strike always exists and the U.S may possibly resort to commando raids or air strikes.
He added that U.S cannot sustain their action in view of terrain and configurations of population.
Pakistani Taliban have demonstrated that they are at this point of time more committed to fighting foreigners then with the idea of striking peace with the Pakistani authorities.
Anti-American sentiment is very strong in Pakistani public and will be triggered if US tries to attack Pakistani tribal region under the cover of war against terrorism.