WASHINGTON, July 27: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani arrived in Washington on Sunday on a three-day visit to the US capital as Pakistan’s first elected prime minister after eight years of military rule.

Pakistan’s Ambassador Hussain Haqqani says the visit will help bolster economic cooperation and security assistance and will end with the United States declaring “unequivocal support” for democracy and the prime minister offering “full cooperation” in the fight against terrorism.

The US media, however, presents a different picture, alerting the Pakistanis to expect a “testy” and “harsh” reception because US leaders have lost patience with Islamabad’s failure to curb terrorism.

The prime minister, however, has urged understanding with his government’s tactics of negotiating with the militants, saying that it will reduce terrorism both in Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan.

Mr Gilani also spoke of long-standing relations between Pakistan and the United States and hoped that his visit would further strengthen those ties.

In an earlier statement, Mr Gilani had said that US leaders “should be patient with the new government for a year or so and see if it is able to translate its ideas into actions”.

Mr Gilani said he had “high hopes” he could make the US Congress understand the complicated nature of the Taliban’s place in Pakistan’s foreign and domestic relations.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashram and Ambassador Naquin received the prime minister at the airport.

The Americans, according to their custom, had sent Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher and protocol officials. The US president and officials like the secretary of state do not receive a guest at the airport but they do attend welcome ceremonies at the White House.

Information Minister Sherry Rehman, PM’s Adviser on Interior Rehman Maliki and Special Assistant to PM on Economic Affairs Henna Rabbani Khar are also accompanying the prime minister.

Mr Gilani begins his official engagements with a meeting and working lunch with President George W. Bush at the White House on Monday.

During his first visit to Washington, Mr Gilani will also meet top Congressional leaders and senior administration officials, including Vice- President Dick Cheney and secretaries of state, defence and treasury.

He is also hoping to meet US presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain, although the aides of the two candidates have not yet confirmed the meetings.

Mr Gilani will address the US Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday.