Bush reaffirms terror fight to Pakistan PM

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Thursday thanked Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who resigned this week, for efforts in fighting terrorism and called Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to pledge support for going after extremists, the White House said.

"President Bush expressed to Prime Minister Gilani the United States' strong commitment to working with the prime minister and the government of Pakistan to address the ongoing battle against extremists and to assist Pakistan through its current economic situation," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Bush had considered Musharraf, who resigned to avoid impeachment, a strong U.S. ally in going after Taliban and al Qaeda extremists, and analysts say the new Pakistani government appears to be a more reticent partner.

Bush has been trying to forge ties with the new Pakistani leaders and had met with Gilani recently at the White House.

"The president expressed his sympathies to the people of Pakistan for the recent terrorist attacks that have killed so many innocents," Johndroe said.

"The president and prime minister reaffirmed their mutual support for going after these extremists that are a threat to both Pakistan, the United States and the entire world," he said.

(Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria; Editing by Kristin Roberts and Vicki Allen)