Special report: Pakistani Situation

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf (L) shakes hands with new Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani after Gilani was sworn in at the President House in Islamabad March 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ISLAMABAD, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that Pakistan would continue to pursue a comprehensive strategy to counter terrorism.

    While meeting with visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, Musharraf emphasized the importance of a stable, broad-based and multi-faceted relationship between Pakistan and the United States, News Network International (NNI) reported.

    Musharraf said he would give full support to the newly-elected Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani and his government.

    Negroponte assured Musharraf of the continued commitment of his country to Pakistan's endeavors for its socio-economic development, and underscored the importance of Pakistan in fighting terrorism and extremism.

    Pakistan's lower parliament elected Gillani as the country's new prime minister on Monday. The cabinet members will be announced within days.

    Gillani was nominated by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, which emerged as the largest parliament party in the Feb. 18 parliament election.

    The PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the second largest in the parliament, agreed to form the new government after winning the elections, but hinted change of current anti-terrorism strategy.

    Also on Tuesday, Bhutto's widower and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif met separately with Negroponte.