KARACHI, Feb 11: Pakistan is playing a very important role in the war on terrorism and it is a vital link in the campaign the international community has launched to stamp out terrorism.

These views were expressed by two members of the Bundestag (German parliament), who are in the city and met citizens from different walks of life to exchange views. The parliamentarians, Sebastian Edathy of the Social Democratic Party and Josef Philip Winkles of the Green Party, said the EU, particularly Germany, was keen to increase academic exchanges and enhance economic cooperation.

Mr Winkles, who is chairman of the Bundestag Committee for Friendship with South Asian countries, said there was keen interest among German Parliamentarians to better understand South Asia and there were 30 members who were members of the committee.

The parliamentarians said it was unrealistic to expect that Pakistani authorities could eliminate illegal crossings. However, they said, better control of border crossings would help check this menace.

They said the German political parties appreciated the help given by Pakistan to combat terrorism and the role it had played as a frontline state. The managing director of BASF, Qazi Sajid, who hosted the meeting at his residence said there were great economic opportunities in Pakistan and many international companies were in the process of coming to explore them.

Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Muzzaffer Hussain Shah said the links between Pakistan and Germany went back many decades. He said the ties were based on trust and mutual respect.

The chief guest, Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro, gave shields to the visiting parliamentarians, who are leaving Karachi today.

The German Parliamentarians came here from Islamabad where they met members of the Senate and the national assembly and officials of the foreign ministry and other departments. They called on the Sindh governor and business leaders during their stay in Karachi.