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ISLAMABAD, July 22: President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday underlined that peace and security in South Asia would depend on the progress made in the composite dialogue started with India on various issues , including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The president was talking to German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who had called on him at Aiwan-i-Sadr.
He told the foreign minister about the confidence-building measures and the composite dialogue going on with India for the settlement of Jammu and Kashmir and other disputes.
The president also briefed Mr Fischer on Pakistan's role in the fight against terrorism, the democratic process in the country and empowerment of women and minorities.
The situation in Afghanistan and the forthcoming presidential elections in that country were also discussed. The president reiterated Islamabad's commitment to the Bonn Process and the economic assistance Pakistan was providing to strengthen the Karzai's government.
The question of reform of the UN Security Council also came under discussion.
Mr Fischer said Germany fully supported Pakistan's counter-terrorism policies and the vital role it was playing to eliminate extremism. He appreciated the steps taken for normalization of relations with India.
He said Germany and the European Union would do more to support Pakistan's efforts for rapid socio-economic development.
SUDAN CRISIS: President Musharraf told Mr Fischer he would take personal interest in preventing a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan.
The minister had asked the president to use Pakistan's position at the UN Security Council to exert influence on Sudan to prevent a deepening of the humanitarian crisis in its Darfur region, where over 10,000 people have been killed in the past 18 months. Both Pakistan and Germany currently hold seats at the Security Council.
"Be assured I will take a personal interest," Gen Musharraf told Mr Fischer, according to a German official present at their 90-minute talks.
If the Sudanese government did not live up to the promises it made to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan earlier this month on curbing the violence, a Security Council resolution 'would be unavoidable,' Mr Fischer was quoted as telling the president.
Gen Musharraf insisted that Sudan's territorial integrity be preserved in any bid to resolve the crisis there.
FISCHER MEETS PM: The German foreign minister called on Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. They discussed bilateral and trade relations and other matters of mutual interest.
Briefing the visiting minister on the state of Pakistan's economy, the premier said there was a great potential for investment in different sectors.
He said that with the opening of Gwadar port the Central Asian market would be available to the manufacturers, who would have enterprise in Pakistan.-Agencies
