June 21, 2002	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 9, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ISLAMABAD, June 20: German Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Juergen Chrobog on Thursday called for the initiation of dialogue between Pakistan and India for the resolution of their outstanding disputes.

“We would continue to encourage both Pakistan and India to resolve their disputes through dialogue,” Mr Chrobog told reporters at the conclusion of his South Asian visit.

Mr Chrobog, who met his counterparts in New Delhi and Islamabad, expressed his satisfaction over the recent measures taken by the Indian government to ease the situation.

Mr Chrobog, without disagreeing with the suggestion of immediate withdrawal of troops from the borders, termed the recent measures as a “good beginning”.

The exchange of diplomats at the high commissioner’s level could provide a good beginning towards confidence building between the two countries.

“We cannot expect miracles happening overnight,” he added and also referred to the restoration of weekly telephonic contact between the directors-general of military operations of the two countries.

“You have already made good progress with the help of the United States,” he said.

He said Germany was willing to host a conference of India and Pakistan like the one in Bonn which resulted in an agreement between the Afghan warring factions.

But, he said they could not force Pakistan and India to come to the negotiating table. India, he added, was not willing to accept any international mediation.

Indian government, he said has also refused to allow international observers to monitor the upcoming elections in occupied Kashmir.

“We welcome the international observers to monitor elections in Germany and most other countries also do,” he said.

Regarding the threats of nuclear war, he said, the international community was very concerned. “Nuclear war is the end of everything, nobody can win a nuclear war,” he said adding that even the talk of nuclear option was outrageous.

Mr Chrobog also met Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider.

He said Germany wanted to invest in Pakistan but there were some security concern. But, he said, Gen Musharraf’s government was doing a lot to bring the situation under control.

He also said he was pleased with the steps being taken by the Musharraf government for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

Earlier, a foreign office press release said that Mr Chrobog discussed with Inamul Haq, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, the situation resulting from the Indian military buildup along the borders with Pakistan.