October 11, 2001	Thursday	Rajab 23, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: Pakistan has suggested a broad-based coalition government in Afghanistan with representation from all sections, saying that “no regime can be imposed by outside powers”.

The Germany’s state secretary of foreign affairs, Juergen Chrobog, told reporters at a news conference here on Wednesday that President Gen Musharraf had made that suggestion to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder during a telephonic conversation on Tuesday.

President Musharraf, according to Mr Chrobog, told the German chancellor that a broad-based coalition government would be acceptable to the Afghan people.

He said Gen Musharraf had emphasised that no regime could be imposed on Afghanistan by outside powers. The two leaders, he added, had discussed the post-Taliban scenario in Afghanistan.

He stated that the German chancellor had assured Gen Musharraf of increased economic cooperation and support in the international financial institutions, including the Paris Club, the IMF and the World Bank.

The chancellor was said to have conveyed to Gen Musharraf that Pakistan was not alone in the fight against terrorism and had a number of friends in the international community.

“We are fighting together against global terrorism and we all face the same dangers”, he said, while terming the role of Pakistan a positive development.

Mr Chrobog, who arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday, said that during his meeting with President Musharraf, post-Taliban expectations and concerns had been discussed, added that Germany had an interest in the future of Afghanistan and the response of the world showed that it aimed for a better future for the war-ravaged country.

“It’s the beginning of a new understanding and relationship between countries to meet the strategic global challenges.”

The state secretary, while assuring Germany’s help to Pakistan, remarked that the Afghan Support Group has allocated $600 million for the developing humanitarian and financial crisis in Afghanistan.

In reply to a question, he said Germany had extended all-out support to the US in its war against terrorism.