Islamabad - Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday left for Germany on a four-day official visit to promote economic cooperation and discuss the insurgency in the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Gilani told reporters at the airport that Germany was Pakistan's "important economic partner" and the main agenda of his visit would be strengthening bilateral relations especially in trade, economics, science and technology, health and education.
Germany is Pakistan's fourth-largest trading partner and its biggest in the European Union.
During his talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other officials, Gilani is expected to discuss the new Afghanistan and Pakistan policy that US President Barack Obama is expected to announce on Tuesday.
Pakistan has expressed concerns over the surge in western troops in Afghanistan, saying that it could create further troubles for the country struggling against Taliban militants in its tribal region adjoining Afghanistan.
"We have highlighted our concerns about possible increase in US forces in Afghanistan," Gilani told German Press
