India says looking forward to Pak minister's next month visit

Islamabad, Jun 24 (PTI) India is looking forward to
Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani
Khar's visit to the country next month for crucial talks
between the two sides.
This was conveyed by Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama
Rao, who is here on a two-day visit for talks with her
Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir, to Khar when she called
on the Pakistani Minister Friday morning.
During the meeting, Rao conveyed the greetings of
Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and "reiterated
that Government of India looks forward to the Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs' visit to New Delhi next month,"
Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said.
Khar spoke about "the importance that Pakistan
attaches to the ongoing dialogue process and to the
improvement of Pakistan-India relations."
She said she was looking forward "very much to her
meetings in New Delhi."
Rao said the ongoing meetings between the two sides
were an effort to understand the complexities of the issues
between them and build more trust and confidence.
Khar hoped that the interactions will result in some
forward movement.
Separately, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India
Shahid Malik said this country's Foreign Minister will be
travelling to New Delhi next month to take forward the
bilateral peace process.
"What we can deliver at this stage is that our Foreign
Minister will be visiting New Delhi in July," he said.
Pakistan currently has Khar as Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs, but there are reports that the government has
decided to elevate her to full-fledged Cabinet rank ahead of
crucial talks with India next month.
India has already expressed its view that it will not
have any hesitation in hosting Khar for the Foreign
Minister-level talks in July, even if she is not elevated. PTI
PYK