KARACHI – A crisis of leadership has pushed Pakistan into a quagmire, and the country needs strong leadership to overcome the crises that beset it, argued Germany Deputy Consul-General Dieter Freund during an interview with Pakistan Today late Tuesday evening. Having served his country for the past four years at the Consulate General in Karachi, Freund retired from service on April 12, 2011. Freund was associated with the German foreign ministry for the past 40 years, the last four of which were spent in Karachi. He was given a fulsome and graceful farewell at the German Consulate General in Karachi on Tuesday, with friends and colleagues bidding adieu to a proud German and a friend of Pakistan.
“The war on terror, drone attacks, CIA’s penetration, targeted killings, and other multiple long-standing crises are the result of weak political leadership in this country. In my personal opinion, your country needs a true, strong and independent leader who can pull Pakistan out of a variety of crises – a strong and independent leader who can stop the war on terror, known as proxy war, drone attacks, targeted killings and ensure better governance,” Freund said.
The former German diplomat regretted, however, that mainstream political parties in Pakistan have no culture of internal democracy and that a few families had thrust their dominion onto their parties. “Had Benazir Bhutto been alive, the governance situation could have been better in Pakistan. Her political maturity, experience and agility would certainly have driven Pakistan towards growth and stability. But her sudden demise deprived Pakistan of a strong leader,” he said.
Freund contended that foreign investors are unwilling to come to Pakistan at present, because of bad governance and a variety of crises. “Bad governance means the non-existence of the government. Having said that, I don’t see any role for the Army in the political set-up of Pakistan in the near future,” he said, reiterating that unless and until a strong and independent leader is brought into power, existing crises will continue to haunt Pakistan.
With foreign investment tentative at best, would Germany be able to extend direct help? Freund ruled out the possibility of Germany inking a free-trade agreement with Pakistan: “Germany is a member of the European Union, and consent from the EU and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Germany cannot sign a free trade agreement with Pakistan.” The former German diplomat added, however, that Pakistan and Germany enjoy cordial social and economic ties, and both have sustained mutual trade over the past four years.
He argued that efforts should be made to widen the scope of education in Pakistan, since it can help improving the situation and staving off the crises that plague the country. He advised the Pakistani government and students to explore the avenues available in German universities, adding however that while German is ready to provide scholarships, this kind of facilitation is likely to be limited.
To avail scholarships in Germany, Freund said, Pakistani students must first learn the German language since it was the medium of instruction in most universities. Once they are adept at reading and writing German, students can easily qualify for scholarships, he added. What does retirement hold for Freund, especially in the context of Pakistan-Germany relations? “Well, I am retired now, and I can express my personal views freely. I don’t need to have any kind of fear while expressing my own views about Pakistan’s future and current situation. I am a free bird now,” he added.
