IT TOOK a week for Pakistan's Prime Minister to directly address his Parliament and people after US commandos eliminated the world's most wanted man deep inside his country's borders.

When he did, Yousuf Raza Gilani sought to restore dignity to a nation embarrassed and angered by the bin Laden fiasco. He also underscored that Pakistan views the struggle against terrorism very differently to the US and its allies.

Mr Gilani began by going back several decades, to when the CIA had a role in supporting and training the Mujahideen, the insurgents who fought the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. These religious militant groups mutated into al-Qaeda and the Taliban, he said.

''Who was responsible for the birth of al-Qaeda?'' Mr Gilani asked.

''Collectively, we must acknowledge facts and see our faces in the mirror of history. Pakistan alone cannot be held to account for flawed policies and blunders of others … we did not invite al-Qaeda to Pakistan.''

Mr Gilani said Pakistan had cautioned international forces on ''the consequences of a flawed military campaign'' in Afghanistan and how it could lead to the dispersal of al-Qaeda.

He also emphasised the high price Pakistan was paying in the battle.

''In this war against terrorism, Pakistan has lost some 30,000 men, women and children and more than 5000 armed forces personnel, billions of dollars lost as economic costs.''

He branded as ''absurd'' allegations of complicity between Pakistan's government or intelligence agencies and bin Laden.

Most of the speech was delivered in English, a sign that Mr Gilani was targeting his foreign audience, especially the United States.

He also sent a pointed message to the US that Pakistan has other friends, calling China an ''all-weather friend'' and saying its economic success was ''a source of inspiration and strength for the people of Pakistan''. Mr Gilani dispelled fears about the future of Pakistan-US relations. ''Pakistan attaches high importance to its relations with the US,'' he said.

''The dissonance … is about operational and tactical matters. It is not unusual to have a different point of view on the methodology to achieve shared objectives.''

But many Pakistanis feel Mr Gilani was too conciliatory.

''Gilani disappoints nation, pleases US'' a headline on the front page of Pakistani newspaper The News said.