March 27 (Bloomberg) -- Pakistan's new coalition government will fight terrorism with ``determination,'' Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani told visiting U.S. envoys, a day after a coalition partner indicated the parliament may review the policy.

Pakistan's efforts must be supported by a global approach to combating terrorists, Gillani told Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher when they met in Islamabad late yesterday, according to a government statement.

President Prevez Musharraf's cooperation with the U.S. in the fight against terrorism drew opposition within Pakistan and contributed to opposition parties winning February's elections. Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister and a leader of the new coalition, said this week Pakistan's own interests will take precedence over U.S. concerns in the fight against terrorism.

Terrorism is a ``matter of concern for us and we will confront it with determination,'' Gillani said, according to the statement. A comprehensive strategy is needed to end extremism by combining political and development programs, Gillani said in a telephone call with President George W. Bush two days ago.

``All important policy matters and decisions on important national issues would be taken through the parliament,'' Gillani told the U.S. officials.

More than 2,000 people were killed in terrorist attacks in Pakistan last year. Many incidents took place in the tribal area bordering Afghanistan, where U.S. intelligence agencies say al- Qaeda leaders have a base.

Safety First

The safety of Pakistani citizens will be a more important consideration than U.S. interests as the new government decides how to combat Islamic extremists, Sharif said after meeting Negroponte and Boucher two days ago.

``Pakistan cannot be made a killing field for the interests of others,'' Sharif said.

The U.S. wants to develop a ``multifaceted relationship'' with the new government that isn't restricted to the war on terrorism, Negroponte said after meeting Gillani.

Bush, in his telephone call, congratulated Gillani and said he ``looks forward to working with him,'' White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said at the time. ``The two leaders agreed that fighting extremism is in everyone's interest.''

Gillani, 53, will name his Cabinet and set out his government's foreign and economic policies for its first 100 days in office at the weekend. Lawmakers are scheduled to endorse Gillani, a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party, as premier in a ``vote of confidence'' on March 29, Sherry Rehman, a PPP spokesman, said yesterday. A 20-member Cabinet will be appointed the same day.

Presidential Powers

The new government has said it will cut the powers that Musharraf, 64, shifted to the presidency during his eight-year rule, including the authority to dissolve Parliament. Musharraf ousted Sharif in a 1999 military coup.

Gillani earlier this week ordered the release of judges put under house arrest by Musharraf when he imposed a state of emergency Nov. 3 as the Supreme Court was due to rule on the legality of the president's re-election in October.

The coalition parties, in a March 9 agreement, had vowed to reinstate former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and fellow judges within 30 days of taking office.

To contact the reporters on this story: Paul Tighe in Sydney at ptighe@bloomberg.net; Khalid Qayum in Islamabad at kqayum@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 27, 2008 06:58 EDT