Pakistan foreign minister leaves for Ajmer

Jul 28, 2011 |

IANS

Jaipur

Tags:

Hina Rabbani Khar

Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar arrived at the Jaipur International Airport from Delhi Thursday and after a brief halt due to bad weather proceeded to Ajmer, where she will visit the revered Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

Airport officials told IANS that Khar arrived here at around 12.30 p.m. by a Pakistan Air Force plane and was received by state government officials.

She was waiting at the VVIP lounge of the airport when it started raining.

"She was to leave for Ajmer by a chopper immediately after arrival, but due to rain, the air traffic control did not give the clearance. So the authorities decided not to take a chance," an airport official told IANS.

Sources said that she stayed in the VVIP lounge and had breakfast. She also discussed with authorities the possibility of going for sightseeing in Jaipur.

However, as the weather improved, she proceeded to Ajmer.

The shrine, dedicated to the Sufi saint who came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192, attracts thousands of pilgrims throughout the year.

After offering prayers at the famous shrine, Khar plans to return to Jaipur and fly back home, ending her three-day visit.

Earlier, Khar, who is in India on her maiden visit as Pakistan foreign minister, had expressed her desire to offer prayers at the Jama Masjid in New Delhi, but this did not work out due to security reasons.

The 34-year-old Khar, Pakistan's youngest and first female foreign minister, had visited India twice before she was appointed the foreign minister over a week ago.

Khar held wide-ranging talks with India's External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Wednesday. Krishna invited her to visit south India, specially Bangalore, India's IT hub.

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