Hina reiterates Islamabad's commitment

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Friday denied Pakistan's 'hidden agenda' for pursuit of peace in Afghanistan and in the region, and reiterated Islamabad's commitment for playing its constructive role for peace and stability.
Speaking at a joint news conference along with her German counterpart Guido Westerwelle after a meeting here at the Foreign Office, she urged the world community to offer special incentives in trade to Pakistan, keeping in view its sacrifices in the war against terrorism.
"Pakistan prefers trade and preferential market access for its long-term and sustainable development," she said, emphasising the need for evolution of an institutional mechanism to give concrete shape to proposals for enhanced co-operation in the areas of renewable energy and vocational training.
She said that her meeting with the German Foreign Minister was constructive and positive, and added that the two discussed to further improve co-operation in energy sector, especially the renewable energy. She said that bilateral relations between the two countries had improved substantially in the last few years, adding that there was also tremendous improvement in trade between the two countries and its volume had increased to $2.2 billion. Furthermore, she said, investment from Germany had also increased, which is currently fifth largest foreign investor in Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister also appreciated German support for Pakistan's cause at European Union (EU) for granting concessions to Pakistani products, which would be finalised at World Trade Organisation (WTO). Referring to the Afghan reconciliation process, she said that there was a tendency of negative narrative against Pakistan regarding Afghan issue. "The mistrust is more readily available in newspapers than behind the closed-door negotiations", she noted, adding that Pakistan was being made a scapegoat in the Afghan crisis and was being criticised without any justification.
She, however, added that Islamabad was committed to make all-out efforts for maintaining trust, and said: "We have been persuading Afghan brothers and are waiting for their signal in this regard. About December 5 Bonn Conference this year, Khar said Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role in Afghanistan, adding that being part of the solution in Afghanistan, Pakistan was ready to play its due role in improving peace, security and development.
She, however, made it clear that "it's now up to Kabul" to define Pakistan's role during the peace process, adding that "Pakistan will support whatsoever Kabul decides" about its future. She also urged international community not to put extra burden on Pakistan "that we cannot do".
The German Foreign Minister said his country was keen to intensify bilateral co-operation with Pakistan for its sustainable economic development, adding that Germany supports opening of the EU market for Pakistani products. Referring to his talks with Khar, Westerwelle said he discussed with the Foreign Minister the Afghan issue and Pak-German bilateral relations, terming the meeting as fruitful in terms of concrete discussion on several issues, including co-operation in energy, education and technical training.
He said that his country wanted to strengthen bilateral ties with Pakistan in diverse areas including vocational training and education of youth. He said Germany would work with Pakistan not only on strategic issues but also at people-to-people level.
He also welcomed a promise from Pakistan to work 'without hidden agenda' in Afghanistan. "I welcome the clear commitment by Pakistan that it has no hidden agenda in Afghanistan", the German Foreign Minister said and also thanked Khar for accepting invitation to attend the Bonn Conference, adding that the moot would be helpful in resolving Afghan issue and improving its development. Acknowledging Pakistan's role in Afghanistan, the German Foreign Minister said that the idea of Bonn Conference was to dwell upon the process of transition in the war-torn country. He also expressed sympathies with the terrorism victim families in Pakistan, adding that no country should tolerate violence by the extremist elements.