External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had advised a cautious “wait and watch” approach to evaluating any change in Pakistan's attitude towards India.
In the wake of the new Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani's visit to New Delhi last week, much has been made of the supposed fresh attitude that she brought from Islamabad, claiming that she came “without the burden of history.”
Speaking to reporters on his way back from a two-day trip to the Maldives on Friday evening, Mr. Krishna said that Ms. Khar's trip had been “productive”. However, when asked if he saw any perceptible change in Pakistan's attitude over the last year, he added: “I think the proof of the pudding is in the eating. So I think we will have to wait and see how things will move from hereafter.”
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Mr. Krishna was accompanied on his Maldives trip by Ranjan Mathai, who was on his first trip abroad since he was named as the successor to Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao. He will take over that position on August 1.
Asked about the situation of the large number of Indian students at North Virginia University, which is being investigated by U.S. authorities, Mr. Mathai said the Americans had promised that individual Indian students would not face the kind of action that was taken in the case of the students of Tri-Valley University.
“U.S. authorities have told us the focus of their investigation is really on the university to check whether its authorisation should be continued...That investigation will take one month's time, and no action will be taken till then,” he said. “Students will be given the opportunity to transfer to other universities or to leave without any stigma.” The Indian Embassy was in close and constant coordination with the U.S. State Department on this issue, which has been raised in Delhi as well, he said.
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