After Musharraf, Bush sees a 'brother' in Pak PM Gilani

New York, Aug 7 (ANI): US President George Bush who had last year described his Pakistan counterpart Pervez Musharraf "like his brother", called Pakistan President Yousuf Raza Gilani the same during his last month's maiden visit to the US, said an official privy to the Bush-Gilani meeting.

"Bush said you are like my brother," the official quoted Bush as having told to Pakistani premier.

"Now I say you are like my brother," the official further quoted Bush telling Gilani during his one-to-one meeting in Washington.

According to the official, although Gilani faced tough questions during his meeting with Bush, yet the latter "became soft once the discussion on the ISI was over", reported The News.

He further said that during Gilani's visit the Bush administration provided no evidence on ISI's alleged involvement in the attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul. "They gave no evidence, nor we think they have," the official said while regretting the media hype about the ISI bashing.

"It was meant to embarrass Premier Gilani and nothing more," the official said and added: "But it didn't come as a surprise to Gilani since he was mentally ready to face such questions, keeping in view the recent visit of CIA's deputy director to Pakistan on the subject."

The official said the US added nothing new to the old list of complaints conveyed to Pakistan during the CIA official's recent visit. And that the government's failed attempt to bring the ISI under the Interior Ministry was in line with its efforts to pre-empt any criticism during the PM's Washington visit.

A US Congress official, who attended a reception hosted in Gilani's honour, said the PM tried to put up a brave face while responding to questions about Pakistan's premier spy agency. "However, his answers looked ridiculous, like the one when he said that the ISI was a civilian agency and was under his control," said the US official.

Reprimanding the Bush administration's policy for betting on Musharraf for too long, the US official added: "You have only one number to dial in Pakistan." (ANI)