Germany ready to help Pak out of security, economic turmoil

Islamabad, Oct 28 (PTI) Germany Tuesday assured
Pakistan that it will help the country out of the prevailing
security and economic turmoil for promotion of stability in
the region.

"We want to support Pakistan not only in fair weather
but also in stormy weather," visiting German foreign minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier told a joint news conference with his
Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi here.

Steinmeier also met Pakistan President Asif Ali
Zardari. "My country has an interest in Pakistan's
stabilisation and sustainable development. The situation in
Pakistan at the moment is not easy," he told The News daily.

"Germany would like to assist the Pakistanis and the
newly-elected democratic government during this difficult
time." He is accompanied by high German officials on economic
affairs.

Pakistan expects sound trade ties with Germany which
is an important E.U. member for help in accessing European
markets for exports, particularly in the textiles industry.

"What we are looking forward to is not aid but trade,"
Qureshi said. Pakistan is facing up to a worsening security
situation in its U.S.-backed fight against Al-Qaeda and the
Taliban. It needs up to USD 4.5 billion to deal with a balance
of payments crisis and to save the economy of the country.

Steinmeier said all help will be provided to Pakistan
to tackle Taliban extremism in its lawless tribal areas and
the porous border region with insurgency hit Afghanistan.

Some 3,500 German troops are serving as part of the
U.N.-sanctioned, N.A.T.O.-led force in the war-torn
Afghanistan. Despite the presence of its troop in Afghanistan
unpopular among the Germans back home, Berlin is planning to
send more troops.

Steinmeier said his country wanted to contribute to
strengthening the rule of law, human rights and civil society
in Pakistan in the long-term in an interview Tuesday.