2010-07-19 09:30

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani (R) and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) applaud commerce ministers from Makhdoom Amin Fahim (R) of Pakistan and Anwar Ul Haq Ahady of Afghanistan as they shake hands after signing an agreement in Islamabad July 18, 2010. [Agencies]

ISLAMABAD - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pushed new economic partnerships on Sunday to buttress a shaky alliance with Pakistan that US officials say is vital to victory in the escalating war in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Her two-day visit includes talks with top military and civilian leaders as well as pledges of economic aid which Washington hopes will demonstrate to a sceptical public that the United States is a trustworthy partner in the struggle against the Taliban on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The Pakistan and Afghan commerce ministers signed a trade deal during her visit that the United States also hopes will help boost cooperation between the countries.

US officials kept details of Clinton's trip secret prior to her arrival on Sunday following a wave of bombings and attacks in Pakistan, which is increasingly targeted by its own Islamist militants.

Security will be equally tight during her next stop in Afghanistan, where she will take part in an international conference Tuesday as the US-led war runs into mounting doubts in the US Congress.

The conference is aimed at fleshing out Afghan President Hamid Karzai's pledge to assume more responsibility for both security and governance before US President Barack Obama's July 2011 target date to begin withdrawing US forces.