Eine deutsche Pakistanstrategie
January 09, 2010 / Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, Daniel Twining
Berliner Zeitung
In this German-language op-ed (full text in original language here), Kleine-Brockhoff and Twining argue that ignoring Pakistan is dangerous for a country that has troops in Afghanistan -- even if it is only a midsize country and has no historical ties to Pakistan or interests there. But if Germany wants to be successful in Afghanistan and eventually withdraw, it will have to engage more actively in Pakistan, and make more resources and attention available. A new strategy would better align diplomacy with development than is currently the case. It might take some cues from America's QDDR review process. If Germany wants to avoid budget help and direct support for the current government, the World Bank trust funds might represent a way forward. Together with other Western countries Germany should also provide strategic reassurance to Pakistan in order to convince that country that Western success in Afghanistan would not change the balance of power in the region to Pakistan's disadvantage.



