BERLIN, April 27: Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri and German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung on Thursday agreed to develop closer defence cooperation between their respective countries.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on many issues of common interest, including the Pakistan-India peace process, Afghanistan, Iran issues and the fight against terrorism.
The two sides would discuss specific projects within the agreed upon framework later this year.
Mr Jung praised Pakistan’s important contribution in the fight against terrorism and said that Germany was willing “to meet Pakistan’s defence equipment needs for fighting terrorism”.
Welcoming the rapprochement between Pakistan and India, the German minister said the peace process had promoted stability in South Asia. Germany hoped that the process would continue to move forward.
Mr Kasuri briefed him about the ongoing composite dialogue and confidence-building measures. He stressed the need for cocrete progress on substantive issues, particularly the Kashmir dispute, without which the process could not lead to a durable peace.
He also emphasised that genuine civil nuclear energy needs of both Pakistan and India needed to be met by the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) since cooperation in civilian nuclear technology with India alone could seriously impair the regional security situation.
He suggested a “package approach” by the NSG countries in extending civilian nuclear cooperation to Pakistan and India.— APP
