Berlin, 23 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari received a grand reception and a guard of honour at Germany’s Ministry of Defence during his official visit to the country. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed President Zardari upon his arrival at the ministry, where the national anthems of Pakistan and Germany were played during the ceremony. President Zardari is visiting Germany at the invitation of his German counterpart. The visit holds particular significance as it marks the first visit to Germany by a Pakistani head of state in 23 years. Pakistan and Germany are also celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations this year. During the visit, President Zardari is scheduled to hold meetings with President Steinmeier and senior German government officials, accompanied by a high-level delegation. The discussions are expected to focus on bilateral relations, regional and global developments, and opportunities to enhance economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. The visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to Pakistan-Germany relations and strengthen cooperation across various sectors.