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Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Pakistan backs Afghan reconciliation process: KharISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has said that Pakistan fully supports Afghan-led reconciliation process.
She was speaking to a three-member German parliamentary delegation of the ruling Christian Democratic Party (CDU), comprising of Roderich Kiesewetter, Michael Gahler, and Ernst-Reinhard Beck, which called on the foreign minister in her office on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Khar said that Pakistan had suffered enormously because of terrorism and the prolonged conflict in Afghanistan.
She said a stable and peaceful Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s own interest and also explained Pakistan’s rationale for not attending the Bonn Conference following the US/NATO air strikes at Salalah border post which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on November 26 last year. She said that Pakistan gives great importance to its relations with Germany and that parliamentary contacts should be given due priority in their bilateral issues, as parliamentarians represented the will of the people and could help significantly in bringing the two countries further closer.
The foreign minister appreciated Germany’s support for greater excess for Pakistan to EU markets, including finalisation of Pakistan-specific EU trade package and granting the ‘GSP-Plus’ status to Pakistan. She emphasised that it was only through more trade and investment, rather than aid by which Pakistan can properly deal with its socio-economic challenges. She expressed the hope that German parliamentarians would continue playing their positive and constructive role in supporting Pakistan.
The German delegation appreciated Pakistan’s contributions against terrorism. They assured the foreign minister of their full support in further strengthening Pakistan-US relations in all areas to the mutual benefit of the two countries. The Ambassador of Germany in Islamabad, Dr. Michael Koch, and Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Germany, Abdul Basit, also attended the meeting. online
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk