The Hina factor in India-Pakistan talks

[relativiti]

New Delhi: When 34-year-old Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's youngest and first woman Foreign Minister, holds talks with her Indian counterpart SM Krishna, 45 years her senior, the world will be watching to see how she handles her first major diplomatic outing and navigates the troubled waters of the India-Pakistan relationship.

Ms Khar touched down in Delhi on special flight on Tuesday amid intense interest. Her trip to India comes just a week after her appointment was formalized.

Amid widespread cynicism in Pakistan's predominantly patriarchal establishment, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari justified her appointment, saying it would "send positive signals about the soft image of Pakistan".

A postgraduate in hospitality and tourism from the University of Massachusetts, Ms Khar comes from a wealthy feudal family in southern Punjab and owns Lahore's posh Polo Lounge, a haunt of the rich and the powerful. Her father is a large landowner from Muzaffargarh. Her uncle Ghulam Mustafa Kar was the subject of "My Feudal Lord", a biting account of patriarchal society in Pakistan penned by his fifth wife Tehmina Durrani. Ms Khar is known to be fond of polo and trekking.

Ms Khar has become Pakistan's 26th foreign minister at a time when her country is suffering perhaps the worst image crisis and is being repeatedly singled out as a patron for terrorists and jihadists.

Satish Chandra, a former deputy national security adviser and a former envoy to Islamabad, says her youth won't be a disadvantage. On the contrary, she could provide an image advantage to Pakistan, Mr Chandra told IANS. He added that given Pakistan's military-dominated establishment it does not matter who is the foreign minister of Pakistan. "The shots are being called by the army, and when it comes to India-Pakistan relations, the script is always cleared by the army," said Chandra.

"Having entered politics through the military, she is likely to be influenced by the military which calls the shots on India-Pakistan relations," said G Parthasarathy, former high commissioner to Pakistan.

Ms Khar entered politics in 2002 and became a member of national assembly of the PML-Q party, affiliated with then Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

She joined the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) ahead of the February 2008 general election and was made Minister of State for Economic Affairs by the Zardari government in 2008.

Her rise has been meteoric since, propelled by favourable circumstances. Barely four days after then Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's removal, she was named Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

On the India front, there is, however, a window of opportunity. If her country can sustain the revived peace process, Ms Khar, too, will share the credit.


The Hina factor in India-Pakistan talks

 

[DkBose]

i wish she comes maximum times here....i like her

 

[Laughing_soldier]

When 34-year-old Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's youngest and first woman Foreign Minister, holds talks with her Indian counterpart SM Krishna, 45 years her senior, the world will be watching to see how she handles her first major diplomatic outing and navigates the troubled waters of the India-Pakistan relationship.

Apart from that I do not know why a politician should have too much make-up like on her face. I think a more elderly one with high diplomatic reputation is suited for foreign minister.

 

[Imran Khan]

lets watch the game hope she will never sit idle and shy lolz.

 

[DkBose]

lets watch the game hope she will never sit idle and shy lolz.

how she faced hillary clnton??
she is tota

 

[Imran Khan]

how she faced hillary clnton??
she is tota

thats really concerned matter really how she manage?

 

[harpoon]

Is it wise for Pakistan to give such an important position to inexperienced person. I am not questioning her intelligence, but experience as well as contacts matter when to comes to international diplomacy.

 

[Imran Khan]

just wait coning new gen of family made prime ministers and presidents in future lolz bilawal bhutto zadari haahahahha

 

[manojb]

She will be pro america? In the picture, the guy behind is checking her out!

 

[harpoon]

She will be pro america? In the picture, the guy behind is checking her out!

Is that going to matter.

When it comes to Pakistani foreign policy , what Pakistani GHQ (Kayani & Co) thinks is all that matters.

 

[Jade]

Off late Indo Pak talks have become bland. With Hina atleast we will have some Masala

 

[Mr. Khan]

we too should have more young leaders and less budha party

 

[Desert Fox]

"Having entered politics through the military, she is likely to be influenced by the military which calls the shots on India-Pakistan relations," said G Parthasarathy, former high commissioner to Pakistan.

The Hina factor in India-Pakistan talks

ok this speaks a lot.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

just another photo-opps....nothing else.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Is it wise for Pakistan to give such an important position to inexperienced person. I am not questioning her intelligence, but experience as well as contacts matter when to comes to international diplomacy.

in my opinion she'd be best served remaining on the economic advisory board (as she has good credentials there); she could have simply been an ''advisor'' on For. Affairs rather than assuming the head of Ministry.

but oh well.

Maybe it's good she's getting the chance. And hope she is up to the task.

Is that going to matter.

When it comes to Pakistani foreign policy , what Pakistani GHQ (Kayani & Co) thinks is all that matters.

Oh, how I wish that were the case!