ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar has termed the massive deployment of Indian troops on the border unwarranted and said the situation would remain tense till such time the troops were withdrawn.

In an interview with German TV channel ADD, he said all those countries who had interest in peace could not feel at ease with the continued confrontation.

India, he said, had resorted to this move to coerce and intimidate Pakistan. “The Indians, however, knew that Pakistan was capable to defend itself,” he added.

The interview was broadcast on Tuesday evening in Germany.

Sattar said the present crisis situation in South Asia could only be resolved through dialogue.

Pakistan has repeatedly offered comprehensive dialogue to India to discuss all issues, including Kashmir, but, he regretted, unfortunately the Indian response had inexplicably been negative.

He said that the first step towards resolving any dispute was to enter into a dialogue, as also prescribed in the UN charter. “The friendly countries have also emphasised the need for de-escalation and that logic needs to be followed,” he said.

In reply to a question about the role of Germany in defusing the situation, the minister said that Pakistan would welcome and expect Germany to play such a role.

He said that Germany was an important member of the Anti- terrorism coalition and EU, and therefore, had an obligation and responsibility to make contribution to peace in the South Asian region.

On the bilateral relations between Germany and Pakistan, the minister observed that Germany had been an important economic partner and collaborator in the past and Pakistan would like to recapture that cooperation between the two nations.

About Germany’s participation in the multinational security force for Afghanistan, Sattar observed that the Afghans themselves had agreed on a process of reconciliation and deployment of the multinational force in Kabul at the Bonn conference.

Germany being the host of the conference did have an obligation to ensure the success of that agreement, he added.

Sattar said Pakistan was glad that Germany had joined other countries to strengthen security and process of reconstruction in Afghanistan.

He expressed the hope that Germany would continue to support this effort. This, he said, would in the end, also make them proud of the contribution that they would have made toward helping Afghanistan to stand on its feet.

To another question, he said that Pakistan wished Afghanistan well and would like to see it as a peaceful and prosperous country.

Sattar said that peace in Afghanistan would also be good for Pakistan as it would enable the refugees to return to their country.—APP