ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s top court vowed today to charge the prime minister with contempt for failing to reopen an old corruption case against the president, escalating a crisis that could oust the premier from office.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told his parliament that he would appear before the Supreme Court as ordered to hear the charges against him on Feb. 13.

The political turmoil could complicate U.S. efforts to patch up its troubled anti-terror alliance with Pakistan and get the country to focus on helping wind down the decade-long war in neighboring Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s foreign minister said today that the country would be willing to push the Taliban and their allies to make peace if asked to do so by the Afghan government, an action seen as key to the reconciliation process.

Gilani could face up to six months in prison and be disqualified from holding public office if convicted of contempt.