BERLIN
Germany has sought to assure Pakistan that it will continue its support for the neighboring Afghanistan’s security and stability also after the withdrawal of international troops in 2015.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif following talks in Berlin on Tuesday, Merkel said: “We do not want Afghanistan to become country in jeopardy, in danger again.
“We shall shoulder the main responsibility in the northern part of the country together with the American partners and also among a number of others. We have a certain lead function in the north and we want to maintain this," she added.
NATO’s planned withdrawal from Afghanistan by January 2015 has raised concerns in Pakistan about the future security and stability of the neighboring country.
Merkel said Germany had been the first country to express commitment to support NATO’s follow-up mission in Afghanistan, named Resolute Support, and said it would continue.
She said her meeting with the Pakistani Prime Minister has largely focused on bilateral ties, international and regional security issues, economic and trade cooperation and announced that the two countries have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of renewable energies.
Merkel pledged support for facilitating textile imports from Pakistan to the EU and also for a possible free-trade agreement between Pakistan and the EU in future.
Prime Minister Sharif hailed growing economic relations with Germany and underlined that Germany has been his country's fourth-largest trading partner and the largest in the EU.
During his two-day visit to Germany, Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif is scheduled to meet business leaders, besides his official talks with the political leaders.
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