German FM’s visit: Talks with Kayani top the agenda

Trip comes in the backdrop of Merkel’s statements that Pakistan uses terrorism to solve political issues.

ISLAMABAD: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwell is scheduled to visit Islamabad on January 8 to hold crucial talks with the Pakistani civilian and military leadership on the situation in Afghanistan after Nato troops withdraw from the country.

Germany plans to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in a year, considering the development in Afghanistan, Westerwelle said on December 16 in Berlin.

A reliable source told The Express Tribune that it is significant to note that the German foreign minister has already conveyed to Pakistan that he is more interested to meet the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani than the civilian leadership during his visit next month.

The German foreign minister will leave for Afghanistan a day after holding talks with the civilian and military leadership of Pakistan.

Ties with Germany suffered a setback last week when Chancellor Angela Merkel accused Pakistan of trying to solve political issues in the guise of terrorism and said that Pakistan will have to change its policies.

In a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Berlin, Merkel said that it will be made clear to Pakistan that terror is not a means to an end when it comes to solving political problems. “It (terrorism) is unacceptable and Germany will cooperate with India very closely in this particular area,” she had said.

Following Merkel’s remarks, Pakistan summoned German envoys and lodged protests over the statement.

The Foreign Office has conveyed the government and the people of Pakistan’s disappointment to the German Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad at the reported remarks by Chancellor Angela Merkel relating to Pakistan following her meeting with the Indian prime minister in Berlin, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The statement said that Pakistan had excellent relations with Germany and bilateral cooperation in all areas had lately been increased. “Pakistan was, therefore, surprised and disappointed at the reported remarks made by the German leader,” the statement added.

Responding to the demarche, the German diplomat said that Merkel’s remarks had been misquoted. Chancellor Merkel had outlined general principles of Germany’s counter-terrorism policy, the statement said, adding that the remarks were not Pakistan specific.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2010.