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Germany–Pakistan relations are the
bilateral relations Bilateralism is the conduct of political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which is activity by a single state or jointly by multiple states, respectively. When ...
between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The two states established diplomatic relations in the 1950s, with a focus on social, educational and economic development. Despite strong co-operation and historical ties, the two nations have experienced growing tensions, primarily due to disagreements and differing policies regarding the War in Afghanistan, including as the post-2014 drawdown and 2021 withdrawal of United States-led coalition troops. Germany remains one of Pakistan's largest trading partners. There are approximately 124,000
Pakistanis Pakistanis ( ur, , translit=Pākistānī Qaum, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. According to the 2017 Pakistani national census, the population of Pakistan stood at over 213 million people, making it the w ...
living in Germany according to official estimates in 2019.


Country Comparison

Military Rank of Pakistan is 7th (2023) and Military Rank of Germany is 16th (2022).


History


Relations during cold war:1950s–1990s

The bilateral relationships were succeeded by historical relations in the 1940s, during the British Raj, and finally restored in the 1950s after the establishment of both the countries in the late 1940s. Both, West and East Germany had tilted toward forming alliance with India in the 1950s. Although Pakistan's relations with
West-Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
was relatively healthy and based on mutual cooperation; the relations with East-Germany was deteriorated. In contrast, East-Germany maintained strong relations with East-Pakistan in the 1950s. In 1961, President
Ayub Khan Ayub Khan is a compound masculine name; Ayub is the Arabic version of the name of the Biblical figure Job, while Khan or Khaan is taken from the title used first by the Mongol rulers and then, in particular, their Islamic and Persian-influenced s ...
paid a first
state visit A state visit is a formal visit by a head of state to a foreign country, at the invitation of the head of state of that foreign country, with the latter also acting as the official host for the duration of the state visit. Speaking for the host ...
to West Germany, meeting with German president Heinrich Lübke and
Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
Konrad Adenauer. During this time, Germany partnered with Pakistan to launched industrial development program; hence becoming one of the first economic partners of Germany. In the 1960s, West Germany started a prolonged and heavy industrial programmes to aid Pakistan in its industrialization growth. West Germany idealized Pakistan as "an example of successful development policy in the developing country.". Meanwhile, Pakistani and East Germany civil society started to produce friendly impulses: In 1968 a book exhibition focused on the GDR was organised in Karachi and the Leipzig Trade fair added an office which was headed by a Pakistani. The following year was the beginning of a series of foundations of Pakistan-GDR Friendship Societies. Although, Germany retained neutrality policy during the 1971 war of India and Pakistan; East Germany became the third country in the world, and the first country in Europe, to officially recognize Bangladesh in 1972 after it gained independence in 1971. This was only mildly surprising, since the GDR's government had shown unequivocal support for the Indian-backed separatists in the
Awami League In Urdu language, Awami is the adjectival form for '' Awam'', the Urdu language word for common people. The adjective appears in the following proper names: *Awami Colony, a neighbourhood of Landhi Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan *Awami Front, wa ...
as the conflict played out. Later in the 1970s, Pakistan normalized its relations with East-Germany and
Soviet bloc The Eastern Bloc, also known as the Communist Bloc and the Soviet Bloc, was the group of socialist states of Central and Eastern Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America under the influence of the Soviet Union that existed du ...
. In January 1973, the Embassy of the GDR in Pakistan opened its doors under the chargé d'affaires Walter Schmidt, who was replaced the following April by the first regular ambassador, Hans Maretzki. A few weeks before, in the beginning of April, Pakistan had opened its embassy in East Berlin; Jamshed K.A. Marker, the former ambassador in Ottawa, was its first ambassador.


Cultural Relations

Since they established diplomatic relations, Germany and Pakistan have both enjoyed extremely closed and cordial relationships. Before the re-unification of Germany, Pakistan maintained warm and cordial relationships with both East-Germany and
West-Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
. Germany is home to 35,081 Pakistani immigrants and around more than 1200 Germans currently reside in Pakistan, mostly residing in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Germany maintains a healthy diplomatic presence in the country, with an embassy in Islamabad, a consulate in Karachi and honorary-consulates in Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta. Germany also is one of the countries playing a vital and influential role in Pakistan's current political events, others being Saudi Arabia,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, the United States, and the United Kingdom. There is an underpass in Karachi named Schön circle underpass


Archaeology

German archaeologists have been active in Pakistan for decades. Since 1979, for example, the project Rock Carvings and Inscriptions along the Karakorum Highway has been conducted with the support of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. German researchers regularly travel to Gilgit-Baltistan as part of this project. For a number of years, the Federal Foreign Office has been funding cultural preservation projects in Pakistan. The main projects in recent years include the restoration of the Lahore Fort frescoes and a historical Amburiq Mosque in Gulabpur, Baltistan. In 2010 and 2011, the Federal Foreign Office provided funding to renovate and restore traditional residential buildings in Lahore's historical Old City in cooperation with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). The two projects received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2010 and 2014, respectively. Since 2017, a project has been underway to restore part of the Lahore Fort frescoes – also in cooperation with the AKF. This project is scheduled to continue through 2018.


Goethe-Institut

The main institution promoting bilateral cultural relations is the
Goethe-Institut The Goethe-Institut (, GI, en, Goethe Institute) is a non-profit German cultural association operational worldwide with 159 institutes, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and ...
in Karachi. In the building housing the Goethe-Institut, which is from the Bauhaus era and classified as an historical monument, numerous cultural events are held in addition to the language courses. Another institution active in cultural cooperation is the Goethe-Institut-affiliated Annemarie Schimmel House in Lahore, which also offers language courses and a cultural programme.


Broadcasting

There has long been close cooperation in training between German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) and the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC). Deutsche Welle has its own office in Islamabad.


Economic Relations

Pakistan was one of the first countries with which Germany began development cooperation. The German-Pakistan development partnership was launched in 1961, the year the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) was founded. With trade investment exceeding 2.3 billion. Germany is now Pakistan's fourth largest trade partner. Germany has provided a total of around 3 billion euros to Pakistan since 1961. That makes Germany the fourth largest bilateral donor. German multinational companies based in Karachi mostly through franchise rights are: * BASF (Chemicals) * BMW (Automobile) * Daimler AG (Automotive) *
DB Schenker DB Schenker is a division of German rail operator Deutsche Bahn that focuses on logistics. The company was acquired by Deutsche Bahn as Schenker-Stinnes in 2002. It comprises divisions for air, land, sea freight, and Contract Logistics. Histor ...
(Logistics) *
DHL DHL is an American founded, German logistics company providing courier, package delivery and express mail service, which is a division of the German logistics firm Deutsche Post. The company group delivers over 1.8 billion parcels per year. DHL ...
(Courier) * Linde plc (Chemicals) * Lufthansa Cargo (Cargo airline) (Not currently flying to Pakistan) * Merck Group (Pharmaceutical) *
Metro Cash and Carry Metro AG is a German multinational company based in Düsseldorf which operates business membership only cash and carry stores primarily under the Metro brand. Until 2020 it was also active in general retail business through Real division, wh ...
(Wholesale) *
Siemens Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational conglomerate corporation and the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe headquartered in Munich with branch offices abroad. The principal divisions of the corporation are ''Industry'', '' ...
(Conglomerate) The following bilateral agreements are in place between Germany and The following bilateral agreements were set up between Germany and Pakistan: * Air Transport Agreement * Double Taxation Agreement * Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement * Framework Agreement on Technical and Financial Cooperation (as amended by the annual agreements on financial and technical cooperation) * Agreement on Cooperation in Scientific Research and Technological Development In the 1990s, Germany and Pakistan sought a business alliance, known as the Pakistan German Business Forum. It was formed in 1997 with the humble initiatives of the German ambassador to Pakistan. Commercial trade between Islamabad and Berlin has also been very essential in recent years, as Germany is Pakistan's fourth largest trade partner. In 2000, Germany became one of Pakistan's most important allies surrounding the war in North-West Pakistan between Pakistan and the Taliban. In recent years, the Germany—Pakistan trade and science relations have developed greatly with Germany investing in and trading with Pakistan. Germany is actively involved in Pakistan's socio-economic development and is an active member of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum. Pakistan and Germany also enjoy good economic relations. Germany is the sixth largest importer of Pakistan goods. Pakistan's main exports to Germany are textiles and leather goods, while Germany's main exports to Pakistan are machinery and chemical products. Furthermore, around 30 German companies are operating in Pakistan – not only large firms but also small and medium-sized enterprises. On August, 2014 German Ambassador in Pakistan Dr Cyrill Nunn informed Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in order to foster economic energies German businessmen were launching 'Pakistan Gate' in Berlin on August 24, 2014, which would provide business contacts between the two countries. Sajjad Khan is a board member at Porsche Group AG and technology expert, a
Lufthansa Deutsche Lufthansa AG (), commonly shortened to Lufthansa, is the flag carrier of Germany. When combined with its subsidiaries, it is the second- largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers carried. Lufthansa is one of the five founding m ...
First Class flyer too.


China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

In November 2018, Pakistan proposed China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) partnership to Germany. Pakistan offered German companies to invest in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of CPEC, the landmark framework of regional connectivity seen as a game-changer for the region.


Business


Pakistan German Business Forum (PGBF)

In 1997, the Pakistan German Business Forum (PGBF) was founded. Since then it has been engaged in becoming a central instrument for the promotion and expansion of bilateral economic relations between Germany and Pakistan.


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+)

In 2014, Pakistan was included in the European Union's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+). This gives Pakistan's export sector better access to the European market for various products, in particular textiles. Within the EU, Germany had spoken in favour of admitting Pakistan to the system.


Trade and Investment

Germany exports to Pakistan worth around 1.8 billion and imports from Pakistan 1.1 billion. It is Pakistan’s 4th largest export partner, trade amounted to $1.6 billion in 2021.


Relief Work

To mitigate the effects of the flood disaster in Pakistan in late summer 2014, the German Government provided a total of more than 6 million euros in assistance. In 2015 and 2016, the total amount of the federal budgetary allocations for humanitarian aid projects in Pakistan exceeded 11 million euros. The relief measures are implemented by German non-governmental organisations and international organisations such as the United Nations Refugee Agency and the World Food Programme.


Energy

Germany has been supporting Pakistan in energy sector for decades. Germany has helped to build a whole generation of hydro-electric power plants by providing reduced-interest loans. Further plants are either already under construction or are in the planning stage. German commitment in Pakistan in recent years has already brought sustainable results in the development of hydropower. German expertise is widely recognised in the country. German bank KfW co-funded both Pakistan's hydropower projects Tarbela Dam and Ghazi-Barotha Hydropower Project. Together with European partners, KfW is currently involved in the construction of another two hydropower plants. Thanks to many years of solid cooperation, KfW can also influence the structures of the Pakistani energy supply system. It played an instrumental role in instigating a reorganization of the state-run energy utility WAPDA.


Pakistan-German Renewable Energy Forum (PGREF)

In November 2014, the German and Pakistan governments concluded an agreement to create a Pakistan-German Renewable Energy Forum (PGREF). The Forum is to be launched in Lahore in 2016. It will serve as a point of contact in Pakistan for the German energy sector, for associations and for non-governmental organisations. In the long term, it is to provide training and information and facilitate cooperation between partners from Germany and Pakistan.


Educational Relations

Germany is one of the most popular study destinations for young Pakistanis. Germany and Pakistan have 32 cooperation arrangements between German and Pakistan universities. Every year, hundreds of Pakistanis go to Germany and thus to the heart of Europe to study or to do their doctorate. In 2018 there are currently 4100 Pakistan students and doctoral candidates living in Germany. The academic cooperation and research exchange dates back to the 1930s, when many scientists (who opted to join Pakistan) worked with Germany. In 1960, following the start of the German—Pakistan cooperation, the world acclaimed Institute of Physics (IoP) was built at the
University of Islamabad A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...
. Germany also sent its scientists to interact with Pakistan's scientists, contributing to the rise of physics in Pakistan. Germany also helped Pakistan to participate in
CERN The European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN (; ; ), is an intergovernmental organization that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. Established in 1954, it is based in a northwestern suburb of Gene ...
projects and supported Pakistan in numerous occasions for Pakistan's observant status in CERN. Germany also allowed hundreds of Pakistan's physicists and mathematicians to conduct their research in
DESY The Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (English ''German Electron Synchrotron''), commonly referred to by the abbreviation DESY, is a national research center in Germany. It operates particle accelerators used to investigate the structure of matt ...
. Ayub Khan, then-Chief Martial Law Administrator, built strategic ties with East and West Germany. in 1907, Pakistan's intellectual father Muhammad Iqbal spent several months studying in Germany: in Heidelberg, the national poet learned German and studied philosophy as well as literature. His poem "Darye Naika Ke Kinare Par" (Greeting to the Neckar) as well as a commemorative plaque in this popular German university town are reminders of his time there. "My stay in Heidelberg was like a beautiful dream", stated Iqbal.


Vocational Training

Germany is helping Pakistan to fundamentally reform its vocational training system in cooperation with the Netherlands, Norway and the EU. German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) has been commissioned by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to advise Pakistan's National Vocational and Technical Training Commission and vocational training agencies at provincial level on how vocational training can be better aligned with the needs of the labour market. More than 100 vocational careers advice and job centres have been established throughout the country. Uniform standards and material for examinations have been developed for nearly 60 vocational profiles in agriculture, energy and services; 87,000 young people have completed a training programme; 4,000 vocational training instructors have already been trained, with at least that many set to receive training in the near future.


Germany-Pakistan Training Initiative (GPATI)

In June 2013, 13 German multinational and Pakistani national companies on Thursday formally launched the Germany-Pakistan Training Initiative (GPATI), a new skills development project aiming at equipping young Pakistani men and women with employable skills.


NGO Cooperation

The
Friedrich Ebert Foundation The Friedrich Ebert Foundation (''German: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung e.V.; Abbreviation: FES'') is a German political party foundation associated with, but independent from, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). Established in 1925 as the ...
, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the
Hanns Seidel Foundation The Christian Social Union of Bavaria, CSU-associated Hanns Seidel Foundation (german: Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung) is a German party-associated and taxpayer-money funded political research Foundation (charity), foundation. It was founded in November 19 ...
and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation have all seconded staff to Pakistan and run their own offices there, and in some cases have done so for decades. They support projects in areas including the strengthening of democratic institutions, human rights and the advancement of women, climate change, deradicalisation, regional cooperation and the media.


Defence Relations

During the 1970s, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took extensive initiatives to strengthen Pakistan's ties with Germany. Under Bhutto, the military academies of each country signed a strategic and military training pact. German military officials and cadets frequently visit the Pakistan military academy and Pakistanis visit Germany in return. In the 1980s, the Germany—Pakistan relations saw a military alliance and supported each other while running clandestine operations against the Soviet Union's presence in the
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA),, renamed the Republic of Afghanistan, in 1987, was the Afghan state during the one-party rule of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) from 1978 to 1992. The PDPA came to power ...
. At a later time and as a result
Lufthansa Deutsche Lufthansa AG (), commonly shortened to Lufthansa, is the flag carrier of Germany. When combined with its subsidiaries, it is the second- largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers carried. Lufthansa is one of the five founding m ...
and Pakistan International Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding with plans to code share in future. The Pakistani
Chief of Army Staff Chief of Army Staff or Chief of the Army Staff which is generally abbreviated as COAS is a title commonly used for the appointment held by the most senior staff officer or the chief commander in several nations' armies. * Chief of Army (Australia ...
General Raheel Sharif visited Germany on the invitation of his counterpart German Inspector of the Army Lieutenant General Jörg Vollmer, from 19 June to 22 June 2016. On arrival at the Ministry of Defence, a contingent of
German Army The German Army (, "army") is the land component of the armed forces of Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German ''Bundeswehr'' together with the ''Marine'' (German Navy) and the ''Luftwaf ...
presented Guard of Honor to COAS followed by wreath-laying at Ministry of Defence War Memorial. Besides holding meeting with his German counterpart, the COAS also had detailed meetings with German Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen and German Foreign Minister.


Perception on relations

In 2012, the relations had been down and cooled when Pakistan's police detained three alleged German intelligence agents near the Afghan border. All three agents were interrogated by the FIA agents before being deported from the country with "
Persona non grata In diplomacy, a ' (Latin: "person not welcome", plural: ') is a status applied by a host country to foreign diplomats to remove their protection of diplomatic immunity from arrest and other types of prosecution. Diplomacy Under Article 9 of the ...
" after Germany loaded a protest. In March 2013, German media reported that German intelligence agencies arrested an alleged Pakistani agent working on obtained sensitive data information on drones; no other details were provided.


Diplomatic Relations


Pak-Germany Strategic Dialogue

In January 2011, Germany and Pakistan agreed on initiating Pak-Germany Strategic Dialogue on yearly basis to enhance defense, economy, education, energy, investment and infrastructure. Four rounds of Strategic Dialogue have taken place with last one in November 2018, at Islamabad.


Embassies

* Germany: Germany has an embassy in Pakistan, specifically in Islamabad and has consulates-generals in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta; * Pakistan: Pakistan is represented through an embassy in Berlin and a consulate-general in Frankfurt.


See also

* Pakistanis in Germany * Germans in Pakistan * Pakistan–European Union relations


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Germany-Pakistan relations Pakistan Bilateral relations of Pakistan