KARACHI: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday that Pakistan would not be reconsidering its decision to boycott the upcoming Bonn Conference after NATO airstrikes killed at least 24 Pakistani soldiers, while injuring 12 more last weekend.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani in an attempt to reach out to Pakistan and convince the Pakistani leadership to at least send an ambassador to attend the conference after Pakistan had announced its formal decision to boycott the Bonn Conference over the ‘unprovoked’ attack.
(Read: Pakistan says decision to boycott Bonn conference is final)
Merkel expressed her personal and her country’s solidarity and friendship with the people and Government of Pakistan. The German Chancellor expressed her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during NATO/ISAF strikes against the border posts in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Gilani thanked the German Chancellor and said that he was touched by her sentiments and Pakistan valued the love and friendship expressed by Germany.
Merkel expressed her desire to see Pakistan participate in the Bonn Conference, terming it of utmost importance to Germany, stressing that Pakistan’s representation was essential to making the conference meaningful.
(Read: Bonn conference: How significant is Pakistan’s absence?)
The Prime Minister assured her that Pakistan holds Germany in the highest esteem and attaches highest importance to peace, stability and sovereignty of Afghanistan. However, Gilani said that in light of the current scenario, in which Afghanistan’s soil had been used against Pakistan, both the Cabinet and the Government had decided that Pakistan’s attendance in the Bonn Conference was no longer possible.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan had suffered the largest number of casualties in the war on terror and had rendered greatest sacrifices in its endeavours to support and secure a sovereign Afghanistan.
The German Chancellor requested the Prime Minister to reconsider Pakistan’s participation in the Bonn Conference adding that Pakistan’s seat should not be left vacant. The German Chancellor insisted that Pakistan’s Foreign Minister should attend the Conference.
The Prime Minister regretted that he would not be able to oblige the German Chancellor in this regard.
The German Chancellor suggested that at the very least, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Germany should be permitted to represent Pakistan in the Conference.
The Prime Minister said that since Germany and Pakistan had excellent relations in the past and also the German Foreign Minister was the first to express solidarity with Pakistan, he would refer the matter to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security to take a decision.
COMMENTS (5)
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Good move by Pakistan army, nicely spoken by Gilani.
Gilani is a smart diplomat, indeed!
Vienna,November 30,2011 Ambassador in this case would be the lowest level participant. Even then he could give first hand information on the conference. If the decision goes to keep away Ambassador as well that would hurt the host and almost all Friends of Democratic Pakistan, FoDP. Make note. Taravadu Taranga Trurust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
Yes...stick to it...thank but no thanks ms. Merkel...dont worry about afghanistan...worry about greece, italy and other beggars in europe.
That's the spirit. Now stick to your guns.