Pakistan's ruling coalition to discuss policy on terrorism

Islamabad: Pakistani leaders say they will discuss how to curb Islamic militants who have seized control of parts of its border region with Afghanistan.

Farhatullah Babar says Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and leaders of the parties in the ruling coalition will gather on Wednesday in Islamabad. Babar is a spokesman for the main ruling Pakistan People's Party.

The meeting follows a threat from a prominent militant leader to attack government officials in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province for ordering operations by security forces against rebels in the region.

The government hopes to rein in militancy through more dialogue and less use of force, a strategy that US and Nato officials say is allowing militants to step up attacks in Afghanistan.