Lahore, July 30: Hina doesn’t like ‘fashion icon’ tag on her Lahore: Pakistan’s youngest foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar might have held the Indian media in thrall with her precious South Sea pearls, Roberto Cavalli shades and Birkin bag, but the media spotlight on her style and fashion statements left her incandescent with rage.
The 34-year-old Khar, who is also Pakistan’s first woman foreign minister, returned here on Thursday evening after talks with her Indian counterpart S M Krishna, and objected to being described as a “fashion icon” as soon as she landed.
Reacting angrily to questions regarding the coverage of her fashion in Indian dailies and TV channels, Khar said, “You see, paparazzi are everywhere. Besides, you (media) should not do such acts.” She was addressing reporters at Lahore airport, and she was so irked at the questions that she refused to answer any more and left for Islamabad.
Such was the focus that The Wall Street Journal – not usually given to cover FM-level talks between India and Pakistan – carried a story on the Indian media’s reportage of Khar. “Media coverage of her accessories practically overshadowed the India-Pakistan dialogue,” the Journal said.
The last two occasions on which the Indian media focused so much on visiting women dignitaries was when Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni visited India. Independent observers averred that Khar’s stock in Pakistan had risen after her visit.