Delhi gushes over Hina

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Pakistan’s new 34-year-old female Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has won instant fans in India where a flurry of flattering headlines Wednesday greeted her first trip to the country.
Hina Rabbani Khar appeared to have had an instant impact on one of the world’s most tense bilateral relations, with her photo adorning the front pages of most Indian newspapers amid high interest in her arrival.
“Pak Puts On Its Best Face,” noted The Times of India, the biggest-selling English-language daily, while mass circulation Hindi newspaper Navbharat Times said India was “sweating over model-like minister.”
“Pak bomb lands in India,” joked the Mumbai Mirror tabloid in a tongue-in-cheek reference to the history of wars between the countries and attacks by Pakistani militant groups on Indian soil.
In a rarity for the Indian media, not known for assessing the dress-sense of previous Pakistani visitors, the Mail Today tabloid devoted extensive space to her choice of outfit as she flew in to New Delhi airport on Tuesday.
“The 34-year-old minister scored full marks on the fashion front when she was spotted at the Delhi airport in a monotone outfit of blue — the colour of the season,” it said.
“Tasteful accessories — Roberto Cavalli sunglasses, oversized Hermes Birkin bag and classic pearl jewellery — added a hint of glamour to her look,” it added.
The Telegraph newspaper meanwhile compared fresh-faced Khar with her elderly counterpart S.M. Krishna.
“In the unkind world of adjectives, the odds are stacked against SMK and in favour of HRK,” it said, using the ministers’ initials. “Khar carries with ease descriptions such as ‘stunning’ and ‘petite’.”
Krishna, a 79-year-old who takes great pride in his tailored suits, might face a tough job attracting attention later Wednesday when the two pose for photographs at the start of their talks.
“All eyes on glamorous Pak minister,” said the Rediff website. “She is clearly being looked at as a perfect combination of beauty and brains.”
The Indian Twittersphere was also ablaze with commentary on the Pakistani envoy, who has taken over from Shah Mehmood Qureshi who drew criticism in the Indian media over his strong language last time he met Krishna.
Journalist and author Seema Goswami saw a link between the monsoonal downpour that struck the Indian capital Wednesday morning and the generally fawning coverage of Khar.
“Even the Delhi skies are drooling,” she wrote.
In Pakistan, headscarf-wearing Khar has drawn inevitable comparisons to Benazir Bhutto, the charismatic female prime minister of Pakistan who was assassinated when trying to regain power in 2007.
Like Bhutto, she comes from one of Pakistan’s leading political and land-owning families and her clan has extensive farms in Punjab, the richest and most populous province.
The foreign ministers of the nuclear-armed niehgbours are holding their first talks in a year, looking to breathe fresh life into a peace process still stifled by the trauma of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
India suspended contacts with Pakistan after the attacks and their peace dialogue has struggled to gain any real traction since its formal resumption earlier this year.
Observers expect little to emerge from Wednesday’s meeting beyond some modest confidence-building measures connected to relatively uncontentious issues such as cross-border trade and people-to-people contacts.

18 COMMENTS

  1. But I think she’s like the ufone add.. Pretty face but a disturbing, manly voice. Teri meherbaani!

  2. Nothing is going to happen. PAK have lost its faith in indians heart forever due to there continues lying and criminal activity in india. which include terrorist attacks killing thousands of people like animal officially by pak government. and by spreading fake indian currency printed in pak official printing press.

    60% PAK people have express there anger after death of osama bin laden. ( who seems to be there father ) proves what they like and what dislike

  3. Pakistani Foreign Minister (who so ever) always left good impression on Media. They always have new ideas to convince Indian authorities. But Indian authorities always hesitant in their responses. EXAMPLE is Indian Foreign Minister's visit to Pakistan and his continuous help from India through SO MANY telephonic calls. Anyways HRK is too young and NEW in foreign affairs. (I think) She tries TO AVOID negative impression. Share your comments on subject matter (personality is secondary). It is matter for Media to discuss and consume their time in un-important and "non issue" matters. This is my view, You people may have different idea. Regards.

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