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Islamabad: He is
80-plus and a seasoned politician and she is all of 34 years of
age. But when it came to a face-off in front of the media,
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar clearly scored over
her much elder Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S.M.
Krishna.
This was quite evident at the joint press conference of both
leaders at Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs here Saturday.
Khar spoke at length about various issues and forcefully put
across her country's point of view. She did not refer too often to
her written statement.
Krishna, on the other hand, read out his statement and could not
match up to the effectiveness of his younger counterpart. In fact,
in one of the questions put up to Krishna by a Pakistani
journalist, the articulate Khar came to his rescue. In another
instance, Krishna was asked a question by a Indian woman
journalist. He got ready for a reply and then asked: "What was the
question?"
When they went away and came back
At the joint press conference of both foreign ministers, a
cultural agreement was signed by senior officials of India and
Pakistan. As the media, which was present in good numbers, got
ready for the press conference, both leaders and officers started
to move out without saying a word.
The media, which was eagerly
awaiting the event, was taken aback. But things soon became clear
when the organizers removed the table, on which the agreement was
signed, and replaced it with two lecterns that were put up for the
leaders to address the media.
Both leaders were taken to an adjoining room as the organizing
officials put the things in place.
Rehman Malik's mood
Even though he was not supposed to be part of the bilateral talks
between Krishna and Khar, Pakistan's controversial Interior
Minister Rehman Malik was never out of the picture.
Malik, who made an appearance at the dinner reception hosted by
the Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal at Serena Hotel,
took centrestage for the signing of the visa agreement. On both
occasions, Malik seemed in a happy mood, obliging media with sound
bytes.
After the signing of the visa pact, Malik shook hands with Krishna
and then held his (Krishna's) hand high and remarked: "This is the
sign of friendship."
After seeing off the Indian minister outside the interior ministry
building, Malik, who seemed to be in a good mood, again obliged
the media with sound bytes.
Ceremony chaos
With the new visa agreement in place, one really hopes that things
will now not be as chaotic as the event to put it on record. At
the visa signing function at Pakistan's interior ministry office
Saturday, the conference room was over-flowing with media persons
and officials.
People could be seen on every inch of space
available, including chair arm-rests and windows. An enthusiastic
video cameraman even banged into one of the photographs hanging on
the wall.
Even the dignitaries had to squeeze into the room to carry out the
all-important ceremony.
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