Westerwelle in Pakistan

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle held high-level talks with Pakistani officials, including his counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar, on Friday. In a joint press conference, Westerwelle reconfirmed Germany's support to Pakistan, which faces multiple challenges that include the Taliban insurgency, massive floods and a weak economy.

The German foreign minister also congratulated Pakistan on securing a non-permanent seat in the United Nation's Security Council alongside India. He also said that Berlin would continue to provide aid to those whose livelihoods have been destroyed by massive countrywide floods over the past two years.

Westerwelle also met Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari with whom he discussed bilateral issues and the upcoming conference on Afghanistan.

Bonn Conference

Westerwelle said that he was very optimistic about the outcome of the Bonn Conference that is due to begin on December 5. He added there was no simple solution to Afghanistan’s problems but long-term international commitment was necessary. He also reassured the Pakistani media that Germany would not turn its back on Afghanistan after the scheduled withdrawal of international troops from the war-torn country in 2014.

For her part, the Pakistani foreign minister in the joint press conference reiterated Islamabad's official stance that Pakistan is in a favor of a peaceful Afghanistan. She also denied allegations that Pakistan was backing the Taliban.

Khar described her meeting with Guido Westerwelle as very constructive, saying Islamabad had sought help from Germany to overcome its energy crisis and expressing hope that bilateral trade between the two countries would increase in the coming years.

Westerwelle said that Berlin would support Islamabad's desire to have greater access to the European markets. "We hope the World Trade Organization will make a decision on this very soon," he said.

Author: Shakoor Rahim /ss
Editor: Anne Thomas