Pakistan requires more German weapons to fight terrorism: Khawaja Asif

German defence minister says her government is looking into closer military cooperation with Pakistan

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday Pakistan needs more weapons from Germany for its fight against terrorism.

Pakistan needs "above all, weapons of a defensive nature, and weapons useful for the war against terror," Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said during a meeting with his German counterpart Ursula von der Leyen.



Von der Leyen, who was visiting the country, confirmed that her government was looking into closer military cooperation with Pakistan.

"Together, we will chalk out how we can intensify our cooperation in the war against terror ... We are together with Pakistan in the war against terrorism," Von der Leyen upheld.

Calling all terrorist organisations, from the Islamic State to Taliban, as “heads of the same monster”, Asif said terrorism needed to be countered on the whole while referring to Germany and Pakistan’s first agreement to further military cooperation in 2012.

A central theme during von der Leyen's visit was also the precarious security situation in Afghanistan, which she visited before her trip to Islamabad. "We all know that this region will be peaceful only when everyone deals with the reconciliation process and the war against terror," she said.



The German defence minister also it was a positive sign that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani were meeting for the international conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Further, Von der Leyen also called on Army chief General Raheel Sharif and discussed a wide range of issues, including defence cooperation, regional security and emerging geo-strategic environment.

“She appreciated the phenomenal successes of Operation Zarb-e-Azb and paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Pakistani security forces,” the ISPR said.

Earlier, on her arrival at the GHQ, Ursula von der Leyen laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army presented guard of honour to the visiting dignitary.

This article originally appeared on DW.