Islamabad, Jul 20 (IANS): The elevation of Hina Rabbani Khar as foreign minister "will send positive signals about the soft image of Pakistan", said President Asif Ali Zardari.

Khar, 34, Pakistan's first woman foreign minister and also the youngest to occupy this key position, is expected to go to India July 26 for talks with India's External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.

The foreign-minister level discussions are also expected to unveil a slew of new confidence building measures to expand trade and travel across the divided halves of Kashmir.

Zardari Tuesday hoped the country would be able to benefit from Khar's creative potential in the task of national development.

Khar's appointment "is also a demonstration of the government's commitment to bring women into the mainstream of national life", he said.

"The elevation will also send positive signals about the soft image of Pakistan," Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Zardari as saying.