LAHORE:
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Monday ruled out a unilateral withdrawal of troops from Siachen while speaking at her alma mater, the Lahore University of Management and Sciences (Lums).
(Khar graduated from Lums in 1999 with a BSc in economics).
What is important is not just withdrawing troops, she said, but that the withdrawal happens when both countries trust each other. Talking about Kashmir, Khar said the issue was still a hurdle in improving ties between India and Pakistan. She added that it was time to determine how to resolve the issue.
Asked about Pakistan’s relations with its neighbours, Khar said it was in Pakistan’s interest to establish peaceful ties with each of its neighbours. Any instability in the neighbouring countries, she said, would result in a “spill out” effect that would affect the entire region. Khar, while replying to a question about what role Pakistan will play in the Afghanistan peace process, said that “if asked to be a party” to an Afghan-led reconciliatory process, Pakistan will assist in whatever capacity possible.
The foreign minister had a simple solution to foreign policy problems: ask “Is it in Pakistan’s interest?” She added, “In pursuing its goals and objectives, Pakistan wants to be a responsible global player.”
She described drone attacks as a “complex problem”, saying that the relationship with the US, though valued, could not continue “at the cost of [Pakistan’s] sovereignty”. “A long term relationship with any super power can only work if it is based on mutual interest and respect,” Khar said while talking about the recent tension in Pak-US ties.
Asked about US special envoy Marc Grossman’s meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Khar said the meeting should not cause any undue concern. Every national institution is a stakeholder, including the GHQ, she said.
Discussing “the role of foreign elements” in Balochistan, Khar stated that PM Gillani had raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a meeting between the two premiers at Sharm el-Sheikh. However, Khar added, it was necessary for Pakistan to become “strong internally” to resist threats from external elements.
On a lighter note, the minister told the students that studying economics as a major had served her well. “Everything is moving towards economic diplomacy so having an understanding of the subject has helped me.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2012.
Correction: In an earlier version of the story, the picture caption incorrectly read 'cannot' as 'can not'. The error has been rectified.
COMMENTS (20)
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Pakistan and its people are very proud to have Ms. Khar as our FM. She is very intelligent and capable. She is on top of the issues. She is very persuasive and has great personality. She is likable among international dignitaries and the pakistani people. She is honest and speaks from the bottom of her heart. We wish her to stay on course of serving the country and the people and avoiding company of corrupt leaders. God will make you our PM soon.
Wish is Prime Minister of Pakistan some day...
what a mockery and joke for an institution to invite a person who is living example of unjust in our government. who has become the symbol of difference between haves and have nots. She is an ideal example of insulting merit over family influence. And what a stupid bunch of people commenting about her picture, dress, make up, style and to last of all what she said!
she said what new? NOTHING! zero. i Bet that she will produce some extra sentence once the Nato supply is open without meeting Pakistan interest! lets bet on this? who is in? She said that her degree in ecnomics is benefitting her in Foreign Policy....LOL. so i guess people who are studying political science or International relation should quit and change their major to ecnomics. because if you want to play a role in foreign office or in political offfice you are wasting almost 6 years in IR or PS degree.. go get ecnomics one. -- here is the truth- born into a wadera or political house, you are gauranteed a minister level seat no matter what you study! LUMS are you serious? i have now doubts on you!
Just saw the video of her speech at LUMS here: http://lums.edu.pk/video-show.php Very impressed by her and also by LUMS to have these events on their website. The questions from the students were very good and very tough but she handled it very well.
Ms. Khar has been accused of being a product of nepotism, but while she is a young and inexperienced politician, no one can doubt that she is competent. I don't see any other player in the PPP who is foreign minster material after the resignation of Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Plus, she has handled herself very well in her short tenure as FM.
I don't believe a Foreign Minister should be blamed for domestic issues within Pakistan such as the economy. She is doing what she is there for, the rest is up to her other, more incompetent party members.
@Sarah H. That is the point. Attention diverting diplomacy !!!!
here is the video of the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpN8kV0FNp8&feature=player_embedded
@Simbio: and how do you define 'capable'? bateein karwa lo bus in haters say... The fact is she is doing a good job in speaking up at the times when we lost credibility in the modern world.
@A lums student: Good on you and LUMS. Wish you all the best. Make a commitment that you will pay back LUMS by way of paying full fee for a financially poor student who is not lucky enough to get scholarship.
Correction: can not/ Cannot*
Surprising, how people are commenting on her makeover, pictures and LUMS instead of analyzing the message she conveyed.
Lol A massive Generalization Mr.SJ. I am a student of LUMS and i am on full financial aid. And i can assure you that almost half of the lums body is on some sort of financial aid and about twenty five percent are studying on National Outreach Program on full scholarship. We are grateful to lums for allowing people like us who are from very poor backgrounds to attain world class education for giving us an opportunity to study with the best intellectuals in the country. I think you should reconsider your opinions about lums being an institution of the elites. Regards
To look more graceful in photographs, she should put less glossy and non-oily makeup.
@Simbio I would really like to understand how it is wrong of her to be at the position she is at. She is educated, capable, has mandate of her constituency and hasn't shown any lack of judgement per se. Just because someone else can't get a job he/she desires to, doesn't make her any wrong. Learn to see beyond the myopic view points that we have all been raised up with.
Not as beautiful as people depict her.
@Atif Razzaq: No one is denying that she is not intelligent and capable. Simbio's point is that there are at least a million more equally intelligent and capable people in Pakistan. Half of them can't afford to go to LUMS and from the other half only small percentage can get in there and not all of them have political contacts or family background like she has.
On the other hand, I see your point as well and agree that we should try to find positives in all situations. So Simbio be positive, OK.
@Simbio: Always negative thoughts. Instead of pointing negative, appreciate the work she is doing for pakistan. She is intelleigent and fully capable of this post…..
She should have told students how political contacts can make you a foreign minister while capable people are running around with their resumes to get an ordinary job.
She looks truly gorgeous a class woman in the picture.
This lady knows her stuff well!