Ahmad Abdullah Ravian
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ISLAMABAD -
Claiming that army does not run Pakistan’s foreign policy, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar says the military’s intentions towards India have been “overrated” and there is a need to break away from this perception.
“We sometimes overrate the role of the military and overrate their intentions especially when it comes to India... Let’s not be burdened by our history.
Let’s move forward. I think Pakistan has learnt its lessons,” Khar said during an interview with Newsweek when she was asked about the role of the Pakistan Army and the ISI’s historical ties with militant groups, especially those fighting in Held Kashmir.
She contended that Pakistan’s foreign policy was not directed by the army, which was one of the institutions “taken on board” while making decisions on key issues. “The army does not run our foreign policy,” she said.
“They (the army) are important stakeholders and not an outside force, so we should stop viewing them as such. After all the institutions are taken on board, a view emerges, and that is the government’s view, which is Pakistan’s view,” she said.
Referring to her visit to New Delhi last month for talks with her Indian counterpart S M Krishna, Khar said: “The dialogue process with India should be uninterrupted and uninterruptible, and the environment we found there was exceptionally healthy. That to me was the biggest confidence-building measure.”
Khar was not pleased with the media’s focus on her fashionable clothes and accessories during her visit. However, she contended she had achieved the objectives of her visit.
“Whatever goals and expectations we went with to India, we achieved,” she said.
Referring to the headlines on both sides of the border about her accessories, including Cavalli sunglasses, Mikimoto pearls and an expensive Birkin bag, Khar said: “People were calling it the Ministry of Fashion Affairs... I am very comfortable with the fact that I am much more than that.”
A big thing to say
Claiming that army does not run Pakistan’s foreign policy, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar says the military’s intentions towards India have been “overrated” and there is a need to break away from this perception.
“We sometimes overrate the role of the military and overrate their intentions especially when it comes to India... Let’s not be burdened by our history.
Let’s move forward. I think Pakistan has learnt its lessons,” Khar said during an interview with Newsweek when she was asked about the role of the Pakistan Army and the ISI’s historical ties with militant groups, especially those fighting in Held Kashmir.
She contended that Pakistan’s foreign policy was not directed by the army, which was one of the institutions “taken on board” while making decisions on key issues. “The army does not run our foreign policy,” she said.
“They (the army) are important stakeholders and not an outside force, so we should stop viewing them as such. After all the institutions are taken on board, a view emerges, and that is the government’s view, which is Pakistan’s view,” she said.
Referring to her visit to New Delhi last month for talks with her Indian counterpart S M Krishna, Khar said: “The dialogue process with India should be uninterrupted and uninterruptible, and the environment we found there was exceptionally healthy. That to me was the biggest confidence-building measure.”
Khar was not pleased with the media’s focus on her fashionable clothes and accessories during her visit. However, she contended she had achieved the objectives of her visit.
“Whatever goals and expectations we went with to India, we achieved,” she said.
Referring to the headlines on both sides of the border about her accessories, including Cavalli sunglasses, Mikimoto pearls and an expensive Birkin bag, Khar said: “People were calling it the Ministry of Fashion Affairs... I am very comfortable with the fact that I am much more than that.”
A big thing to say
