Indian press love foreign minister for her sunglasses, not her mind

Summary of story from Independent, drug July 28, 2011

Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan’s first female Foreign Minister (see WVoN story) captured the attention of the Indian press on Wednesday, but not because of any progress on the India-Pakistan peace process front.

No, it was her Roberto Cavalli sunglasses, oversized Hermès Birkin bag and pearl jewellery that took the media spotlight.

The Times of India carried a front-page headline that read: “Pak Puts On Its Best Face.” Meanwhile, the Hindi-language Navbharat Times claimed India was “sweating over model-like minister”.

Kanchan Gupta, associate editor of The Pioneer, said he believed that whatever else Ms Khar might do, she would serve to soften Indian opinions of Pakistan. “She is modern, dashing, she is swish,” he said.

However, those looking for something vastly substantive from the talks will have been disappointed.

Both sides said they would work more closely together to fight terrorism in the region and would make it easier for trade and travel across the UN-drawn line of control.

But that was not the point. Officials have stressed that in the aftermath of the 2008 attacks in Mumbai by Pakistan-based militants , which killed more than 160 people, it is essential to have confidence-building measures put in place.

The talks do not seem to have provided this.