Germany hoping to smoothen Pak-Afghan relations

Kabul, May 23: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he hoped progress could be made at a meeting of Group of Eight nations next week to help improve cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Steinmeier has invited his Pakistani and Afghan counterparts to the meeting in Potsdam on May 30 as relations between the neighbours, both US allies in the war on terrorism, remain strained.

''I hope that from the G8 side we can provide assistance so that political dialogue between the two nations will become more effective,'' Steinmeier told a news conference with Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta in Kabul.

However, Steinmeier said expectations should not be too high: ''It will certainly be difficult to agree any definitive points of view.'' Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated sharply in recent months as an insurgency in Afghanistan gathers strength. Both sides blame the other for a resurgence of Taliban militants.

Germany is trying to use its G8 presidency to promote cooperation between the two nations.

Steinmeier is due to meet Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri on Wednesday in Islamabad.

Reuters>