Sania-Shoaib marriage spurred 'marriage diplomacy': Pak Minister

Lahore, Apr.22 : The controversial, yet news headline dominating wedding of Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik has given way to 'marriage diplomacy' between the two estranged neighbouring countries, Pakistan's Population Welfare Firdous Ashiq Awan has said.

Talking to reporters at the Lahore airport, Awan said the hullabaloo surrounding the star sports couple wedding helped in establishing state level contacts between both countries, The News reports.

Awan, who visited India to attend the reception of Sania and Shoaib, said during her stay she held talks with several Indian officials over improvement of ties between Islamabad and New Delhi.

She said that Congress Party chairwomen Sonia Gandhi, as a noble gesture, has sent a bouquet for Pakistanis.

Earlier, before leaving for Pakistan, Awan had said that Sania and Shoaib would be the brand ambassador of goodwill, population and family planning and health issue not just of Pakistan but of India as well.

"We are branding Sania and Shoaib together for India and Pakistan. They are the ambassadors of goodwill gesture of both India and Pakistan, it's not only Pakistan," Awan had said.

The minister also said that composite dialogue between the two neighbours should resume as soon as possible.

"This (dialogue) should resume as soon as possible. These are our desires. Let's see how the Indian government, they implement those desires," added Awan.