Berlin, June 30: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf began a visit to Germany today that includes talks with chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expected to focus on the global war against terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan. Musharraf was to meet German President Johannes Rau before being received with military honors in the evening at the chancellery.

Schroeder's spokesman Bela Anda has said that Musharraf's meeting with the chancellor would focus on global anti-terror efforts and Pakistan's troubled neighbor, Afghanistan, as well as bilateral relations. Germany currently commands the international peacekeeping force in the Afghan capital, Kabul, together with The Netherlands. Musharraf plans to meet with Schroeder's economics and labor minister, Wolfgang Clement, foreign minister Joschka Fischer and Germany's conservative opposition leader, Angela Merkel tomorrow, Pakistani Embassy spokesman Malik Ashraf said.

Bureau Report