Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday welcomed Germany's investment in hydroelectric power generation and automobile sectors of Pakistan and also invited the German investment in human development, especially education and health. The Prime Minister was speaking to visiting German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas who called on him at the Prime Minister's office after holding bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at Foreign Office.
Foreign Minister Maas visited Pakistan from 11-12 March 2019, which is also his first official visit to the country.
Welcoming the German Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan attaches high importance to its relations with Germany, which are characterized by shared democratic values and multifaceted cooperation, according to the media office of the PM House.
The Prime Minister apprised the German Foreign Minister on the current regional situation, including India and Afghanistan as well as the steps taken by his government towards de-escalation. He stressed upon the international community to take notice of the grave human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir.
On bilateral front, the Prime Minister welcomed Germany's investment in hydroelectric power generation and automobile sectors of Pakistan. Terming Germany as an important development partner, the Prime Minister invited enhanced German technical support to Pakistan in sectors related to human development, especially education and health. The German Foreign Minister welcomed Pakistan's efforts towards peace and stability in the region and also appreciated Prime Minister's responsible handling of the situation, particularly the decision of releasing the Indian pilot, which has been noted positively by the international community.
Foreign Minister Maas underscored Pakistan's key role towards peaceful settlement in Afghanistan.
He reiterated German Chancellor Angela Merkel's invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Germany. The Prime Minister praised the leadership of German Chancellor Angela Merkel particularly her handling of the immigration crisis.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi received his German counterpart Maas at the Foreign Office where the two, according to a Foreign Office statement, expressed satisfaction at the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in political, economic, trade and investment and educational spheres.
During the talks, the two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues.
Qureshi welcomed the entry of German automobile producer Volkswagen into the Pakistani market and investment by Siemens in power generation and medical sectors. He also invited other German companies to take advantage of the investor friendly policies of Pakistan.
The two sides exchanged views on the evolving regional situation. The Foreign Minister briefed his German counterpart on the Indian aggression against Pakistan's territorial integrity, which was in violation of the international law.
"Pakistan responded in self-defence and acted with restraint," Qureshi said, adding that Pakistan has taken a number of steps to de-escalate tensions with India, including release of the captured Indian pilot, reactivation of hotline between DGs Military Operations and meeting at Atari in connection with opening of the Kartarpur Corridor.
Underscoring the importance of regional peace, the Foreign Minister reiterated that such dynamics were perils of the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the atrocities perpetrated by the security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).
Qureshi apprised his German counterpart on the positive role played by Pakistan in facilitating the ongoing talks between the US and the Taliban, saying that Pakistan had always advocated that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict. A politically negotiated settlement led and owned by Afghans is the only sustainable solution, he asserted.
The German Foreign Minister agreed to work together for deepening of bilateral relations, especially in the field of trade and investment, the Foreign Office said. He stated that Germany was supportive of people centric agenda of the government in the fields of health, education, and human development, which was also in line with the German development programme.
Foreign Minister Maas appreciated Pakistan's overtures towards normalizing the situation by the offer of dialogue to India to resolve all outstanding issues. He added that it was important that India should improve situation in Kashmir. He also appreciated Pakistan's constructive role in the Afghan peace process and steps taken by Pakistan towards promotion of regional peace and stability.
Later, speaking at a joint news conference to the State media, Foreign Minister Qureshi said that three German political foundations that had not been able to work in Pakistan earlier, would now be able to operate in the country as both sides had amicably resolved the issues due to which the operations of the organizations were being hindered.
Qureshi said he also discussed with his German counterpart the idea of establishing a joint foreign trade chamber saying this will be a very positive step towards enhancing bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries.
The two foreign ministers also discussed matters pertaining to the German visa facilitation for Pakistani students of higher education. The two sides discussed the idea of 'partnership schools' in order to partner in the field of education.
Qureshi also referred to the counterterrorism measures taken by Pakistan in accordance with National Action Plan (NAP), adding that the government will ensure implementation on NAP in letter and spirit.
He said that fighting terrorism is a global as well as a regional challenge, adding that Pakistan has taken a lot of steps to eradicate the menace of terrorism and extremism.
Qureshi said that he also shared with his German counterpart the evolution of the NAP, adding that the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar was a tragedy which encouraged the political leadership to reach a consensus over fighting terrorism.
He also drew the attention of Foreign Minister Maas towards the very delicate situation in the IoK that needed to be addressed immediately. "If there are human rights violations, if there are atrocities, then there will be a reaction and that reaction, at times, is difficult to contain," he said.
He said that dialogue is the only way forward to resolve the outstanding issues, adding that Pakistan has never shied away from dialogue with India. He said that voices from within India are also insisting that Kashmiri leadership and people should be engaged.
The German Foreign Minister shared his country's concern over the recent tension between Pakistan and India and urged the two countries to resolve their issues through negotiations.
He lauded Pakistan's 'quick release' of Indian pilot, saying that the move helped de-escalate tensions between the two countries.
To a question, he said that the German government acknowledged Pakistan's efforts towards de-escalation. Referring to his meeting with Indian counterpart, Foreign Minister Maas stated that he stressed the need for a peaceful solution to Kashmir dispute during his talks with Sushma Swaraj.
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