Germany and Pakistan on Friday called for a political settlement of the Afghanistan imbroglio ahead of a crucial gathering of world leaders in Bonn next month to seek a solution to the decade-old conflict.
“We seek a political solution to the issue of Afghanistan as we know a military solution is not possible, but armed forces’ presence is necessary to protect political solution”, said German Foreign minister Dr Guido Westerwelle at a joint press briefing with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar held after a meeting at the foreign office.
The visit by the German foreign minister and interaction with country’s top civil and military leadership ahead of the December 5 Bonn conference, is meant to draw a roadmap for the Afghan endgame.
During the briefing, Khar spelt out Pakistan’s stance by making it clear that Islamabad was committed to peace and stability in the region and did not have any ulterior motive in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan has no hidden agenda. We are committed to pursuing peace in Afghanistan and the region,” Khar said.
While appreciating Pakistan’s stance for not having any
hidden agenda, Westerwelle said both countries (Pakistan and Afghanistan) have to work together to fight the menace
of terrorism.
The visiting minister said that leaving Afghanistan without stability and peace would neither be in the interest of the region nor of the world. The international community, he added, is committed to peace and stability in Afghanistan as well.
Giving reference to his meeting with foreign minister Khar, he said that they discussed and agreed to the point that there should not be any vacuum after the withdrawal of Nato troops.
“The commitment of the German government and the international community is crystal clear: we will not forget Afghanistan and this region. We have learnt from past and prefer cooperation to confrontation”, Westerwelle said.
He also said that the world would remain engaged with Afghanistan and the region in terms of development and security. “Security and development are two faces of the same coin,” he added.
Responding to a question, Khar said that Pakistan should be provided with the space to play a positive role. “We are committed to following good relations with Afghanistan, and pursuing peace and stability in the region but the same signal should come from Kabul,” she added.
Meetings with Zardari, Kayani
Westerwelle also held meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari as well as Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
In his meeting with the COAS at the General Headquarters, issues related to the upcoming Bonn conference and the peace process in Afghanistan were discussed, according to an ISPR statement.
In his meeting with the German foreign minister, President Zardari said that time has come to transform the existing broad-based equation with Germany into a comprehensive and substantive partnership based on shared values of democracy, economic liberalism and common interests said a statement issued by the President house.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2011.
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"“Pakistan has no hidden agenda. We are committed to pursuing peace in Afghanistan and the region,” Khar said." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This non stop repetition clearly implies that no one believes Ms Khar.
Maybe we will soon see a new Foreign Minister...with a prefix like Gen......
Karzai can not be trusted.He feels his days are numbered at helm...the day US exits countdown will begin...to avoid this he wants US presence in Afghanistan...however there will be no peace for another 50 years if US stays back.
Although the Taliban regime was removed in late 2001, the Taliban still mark their presence in Afghanistan through insurgence. It is a mistake that they are excluded from the nation-building process. Karzai might speak good English and receive support from the West, yet his corrupt government doesn't win much sympathy from the civilians.