German Mediation

There can be no long-term resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan without Pakistan's cooperation, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Islamabad on Wednesday.

"Without a regional approach, we will not succeed in bringing lasting peace to the region," Steinmeier said after talks with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri. Steinmeier had previously met with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Tuesday.

Steinmeier's visit came amid international efforts to calm tensions between the two neighboring countries. As well as addressing bilateral relations, his visit to the region was part of a German initiative within the G8 to help mend bridges between the governments. Both are key allies in the war against terrorism.

Germany's efforts recognized in the region

Kasuri and his Afghan counterpart Rangeen Dadfar-Spanta are due to attend a G8 foreign ministers' meeting in the German city of Potsdam next week. Steinmeier said this was hoped to significantly improve dialogue between the sides.

The countries are experiencing their worst relations since the Taliban were ousted from power in Afghanistan in 2001.

Capping months of diplomatic disputes and insults, troops this month clashed at the border. Both sides accuse each other of failing to curb militant incursions into Afghanistan from Pakistan's tribal areas. Steinmeier said border security was a focus of his talks during his visit to the region.

Kasuri said he was "looking forward" to attending the Potsdam meeting. The government in Kabul also acknowledged the importance of the upcoming contacts in Germany.

"This meeting is extremely important for Afghanistan and Pakistan," Dadfar-Spanta said Tuesday evening after talks with Steinmeier. "Without cooperation with Pakistan, we will have no long-term peace and stability."

Afghanistan's solutions must be internal

At the same time, the German minister also said final solutions to Afghanistan's problems must come from within.

"Internal reconciliation is not something you can command people to organize and carry out, it has to come internally, it must be a genuine Afghan process," Steinmeier said.

But he gave an assurance that the international community would maintain its efforts to ensure security and help the country back onto its feet.

"Reconstruction has to go on; this is something we owe to the Afghan people," he said. "They deserve it."

A scheduled meeting with President Pervez Musharraf was cancelled owing to pressing internal affairs, Pakistani officials said. Steinmeier will leave the country on Thursday.