ISLAMABAD, June 5: President General Pervez Musharraf told the visiting German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung on Tuesday that Pakistan would continue to fence its borders with Afghanistan to restrict cross border movement of Taliban and other criminals.
Informed sources told Dawn that the president was emphatic that Pakistan would not suspend selective fencing of its border with Afghanistan at 35 vulnerable points.
The Afghan government is opposed to the fencing.
Sources said the German foreign minister, who arrived here from New Delhi, was in Islamabad to have top level talks with Pakistani authorities about the military campaign against Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Sources said the president told Mr Jung that combined efforts were required against resurgent militants and terrorists in Afghanistan to save the region from terrorism.
The president said that the security of the Pakistan-Afghan border was not the sole responsibility of Islamabad but all concerned, including Afghanistan, Nato and ISAF forces were accountable.
The president, however, assured the German defence minister that Pakistan will continue to offer all necessary support to curb militancy and terrorism in Afghanistan.
But he underlined the need for effective intelligence and information sharing to combat terrorism in the region. He also briefed Mr Jung about Pakistan’s efforts to curb religious extremism and terrorism in the country.
The president expressed Pakistan’s desire to expand defence cooperation with Germany.
According to the ISPR, during his meeting with Mr Jung, Gen Musharraf recalled the existing relations between the two countries and hoped that the German defence minister’s visit would further enhance ties. Views on various avenues of defence cooperation were also discussed.
Minister for Defence Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Minister of State for Defence Ali Asjad Malhi, German Ambassador to Pakistan Hunter Mulack and other senior government officials were present during the meeting.
