German special envoy for AfPak arrives to cure Doha talks curse
Saeed Minhas
ISLAMABAD: Another high profile dignitary from the gang of four (Britain, German, Norwegian and Americans) has dropped in Islamabad on the heels of British Prime Minister David Cameron's recent visit to ensure that Pakistan push forward the stalled reconciliation talks between the US and Taliban in Doha.
Talks were halted because of Taliban's use of their emblem and flag in
their recently opened formal office in Doha, Qatar on June 20. Though
both the flags and emblem of Taliban have been removed from the office
by Qatari police but in the meanwhile Pakistan and Afghanistan have
locked horns over the vital issue of Taliban's presence in Afghan
government.
With the deadline for drawdown of NATO forces looming closer, Americans are finding it hard to find a reasonable way out. Americans' mistrust with Pakistan seems to have taken a back seat for the time being but as many diplomats believe that the undertones can still be felt all around both the countries. “It’s not only Drones strikes but it is also about the role India is trying to grab in the post withdrawal Afghanistan,” commented a senior official at the ministry of foreign affairs.
Afghan government stuffed with people from northern alliance seems to have a special liking for India; a notion which Pakistan is unable to digest despite helping Americans and other members if the reconciliatory gang in orchestrating the Doha talks. A senior establishment is Khaki establishment believes that “we are no more India centric but at the same time we just cannot ignore our strategic interests.” From strategic depth to strategic interests is considered a major shift by many Pakistani observers. But with India pushing for an extra mile in Afghanistan even these observers fear that Pakistani establishment might have to take a turn if this approach is not revisited by Afghans and their mentors especially the gang of four trying to broker a face saving deal for Americans and their supreme fighting force of NATO.
Latest in the flurry of high profile visitors is the German special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Michael Koch, who called on the Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.
Our sources confirmed that German ambassador Koch had meetings and briefings with several high profile officials in an effort to calm down the recent spate of accusations flying across Pak Afghan border. The meeting on display was of Sartaj Aziz, because after all these visiting dignitaries want to show off their love for a democratic government. The meetings not on display however are learnt to have taken up the vital issue of talks, withdrawal and of course the post withdrawal scenarios, informed the sources.
Officially, media was informed that during Sartaj-Koch meeting, bilateral relations and regional situation, including latest developments in Afghanistan, were discussed. Ambassador Michael Koch was also quoted by the officials as saying that “Germany is fully committed to strengthening bilateral relations particularly economic and trade relations with Pakistan.”
In the regional context, Koch has appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating the reconciliation process in Afghanistan as part of efforts to promote regional peace and stability. The Adviser reiterated Pakistan’s desire to work closely for consolidation of bilateral relations and partnership with Germany in all spheres of cooperation, especially for the expansion of trade and investment.
Despite all these official cyclostyled statements, the reality is that Germany has been one of the few players in the Afghan game who has been trying to bring Taliban on talking table. Norwegians have also played some distant role in this process whereby Americans were given options and assessments to decide the drawdown, its strategy and post withdrawal scenarios. Britain’s back stage role has always been there throughout these efforts to ensure that its second commandment on the world stage is not threatened.
With the deadline for drawdown of NATO forces looming closer, Americans are finding it hard to find a reasonable way out. Americans' mistrust with Pakistan seems to have taken a back seat for the time being but as many diplomats believe that the undertones can still be felt all around both the countries. “It’s not only Drones strikes but it is also about the role India is trying to grab in the post withdrawal Afghanistan,” commented a senior official at the ministry of foreign affairs.
Afghan government stuffed with people from northern alliance seems to have a special liking for India; a notion which Pakistan is unable to digest despite helping Americans and other members if the reconciliatory gang in orchestrating the Doha talks. A senior establishment is Khaki establishment believes that “we are no more India centric but at the same time we just cannot ignore our strategic interests.” From strategic depth to strategic interests is considered a major shift by many Pakistani observers. But with India pushing for an extra mile in Afghanistan even these observers fear that Pakistani establishment might have to take a turn if this approach is not revisited by Afghans and their mentors especially the gang of four trying to broker a face saving deal for Americans and their supreme fighting force of NATO.
Latest in the flurry of high profile visitors is the German special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Michael Koch, who called on the Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.
Our sources confirmed that German ambassador Koch had meetings and briefings with several high profile officials in an effort to calm down the recent spate of accusations flying across Pak Afghan border. The meeting on display was of Sartaj Aziz, because after all these visiting dignitaries want to show off their love for a democratic government. The meetings not on display however are learnt to have taken up the vital issue of talks, withdrawal and of course the post withdrawal scenarios, informed the sources.
Officially, media was informed that during Sartaj-Koch meeting, bilateral relations and regional situation, including latest developments in Afghanistan, were discussed. Ambassador Michael Koch was also quoted by the officials as saying that “Germany is fully committed to strengthening bilateral relations particularly economic and trade relations with Pakistan.”
In the regional context, Koch has appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating the reconciliation process in Afghanistan as part of efforts to promote regional peace and stability. The Adviser reiterated Pakistan’s desire to work closely for consolidation of bilateral relations and partnership with Germany in all spheres of cooperation, especially for the expansion of trade and investment.
Despite all these official cyclostyled statements, the reality is that Germany has been one of the few players in the Afghan game who has been trying to bring Taliban on talking table. Norwegians have also played some distant role in this process whereby Americans were given options and assessments to decide the drawdown, its strategy and post withdrawal scenarios. Britain’s back stage role has always been there throughout these efforts to ensure that its second commandment on the world stage is not threatened.
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