Germany–Pakistan relations are the bilateral relations 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 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 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 paid a first state visit to West Germany, meeting with German president Heinrich Lübke and Chancellor 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 as the conflict played out. Later in the 1970s, Pakistan normalized its relations with East-Germany and Soviet bloc. 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. 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, 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.