Hina Rabbani Khar* 34-year-old young politician
* went to the University of Massachusetts
* loves trekking
Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna
* 79-year-old veteran politician
* went to Southern Methodist University and George Washington Univ. Law School
* loves tennis
New Delhi
19 June 2011
India would not mind setting aside protocol to host Hina Rabbani Khar, the 34-year-old minister of state for foreign affairs of Pakistan, for talks with external affairs minister SM Krishna (79) in July.
Ms Khar assumed the position on February 1 this year and she has been heading the foreign ministry from February 13 onwards, two days after Shah Mehmood Qureshi was dropped as Pakistan's foreign minister.
A government source recalled that India had deputed Khurshed Alam Khan, a minister of state of external affairs, to travel to Islamabad in 1986 for talks with Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, the then foreign minister of Pakistan.
However, if certain Pakistani media reports are anything to go by, Ms Khar could be elevated to Cabinet rank in the coming weeks. In contrast, ironically, is the speculation in a section of the Indian media about whether Mr Krishna would retain the portfolio after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reshuffles his Cabinet soon.
Meanwhile, New Delhi has iterated that it will be seeking a satisfactory closure of the November 26, 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai when foreign secretary Nirupama Rao travels to Islamabad for talks with her Pakistani counterpart on June 23 and 24.
It described the foreign secretaries' talks as a process, not an event in itself, and as a means to reduce the trust deficit ahead of an eventual resolution of the outstanding issues dogging the two nations.
The cabinet committee on security met on Thursday to approve the scope and agenda of Ms Rao's meeting in Islamabad. Similarly, the Pakistani government is expected to firm up its agenda for the talks on Monday.
The foreign secretaries will discuss, among other issues, peace and security, including confidence building measures; Jammu and Kashmir; and promotion of friendly exchanges.
New Delhi has indicated that the talks would cover all issues of mutual concern and that Ms Rao can be expected to raise issues, including, but not limited to, the continuing threat posed by terrorism.
The Indian assertion came the day after the Pakistani foreign ministry's spokeswoman said that terrorism would not be a part of the agenda because matters relating to terrorism had already been discussed by the home secretaries.
Ms Khar assumed the position on February 1 this year and she has been heading the foreign ministry from February 13 onwards, two days after Shah Mehmood Qureshi was dropped as Pakistan's foreign minister.
A government source recalled that India had deputed Khurshed Alam Khan, a minister of state of external affairs, to travel to Islamabad in 1986 for talks with Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, the then foreign minister of Pakistan.
However, if certain Pakistani media reports are anything to go by, Ms Khar could be elevated to Cabinet rank in the coming weeks. In contrast, ironically, is the speculation in a section of the Indian media about whether Mr Krishna would retain the portfolio after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reshuffles his Cabinet soon.
Meanwhile, New Delhi has iterated that it will be seeking a satisfactory closure of the November 26, 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai when foreign secretary Nirupama Rao travels to Islamabad for talks with her Pakistani counterpart on June 23 and 24.
It described the foreign secretaries' talks as a process, not an event in itself, and as a means to reduce the trust deficit ahead of an eventual resolution of the outstanding issues dogging the two nations.
The cabinet committee on security met on Thursday to approve the scope and agenda of Ms Rao's meeting in Islamabad. Similarly, the Pakistani government is expected to firm up its agenda for the talks on Monday.
The foreign secretaries will discuss, among other issues, peace and security, including confidence building measures; Jammu and Kashmir; and promotion of friendly exchanges.
New Delhi has indicated that the talks would cover all issues of mutual concern and that Ms Rao can be expected to raise issues, including, but not limited to, the continuing threat posed by terrorism.
The Indian assertion came the day after the Pakistani foreign ministry's spokeswoman said that terrorism would not be a part of the agenda because matters relating to terrorism had already been discussed by the home secretaries.
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