Talking in fluent Punjabi and addressing each other as ‘‘brother’’ and ‘‘sister’’, the Health ministers of India and Pakistan seemed like long lost siblings. On Day One of the first SAARC Health Ministers’ Conference, Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistan counterpart Mohd Naseer Khan, talked peace and cementing cultural bonds, apart from discussing their efforts to increase the health budget.Foremost on Khan’s agenda is getting the degrees of Pakistani doctors recognised here so that there can be an exchange of manpower. ‘‘Doctors from both India and Pakistan have excelled and made a name for themselves in the West. So why can’t we work in neighbouring countries?’’ he asked.‘‘If the West recognises our degrees so can our neighbours. The only solution is to monitor the standards of each others’ universities,’’ Khan added. Welcoming India’s offer of free treatment for Pakistani children, he said Pakistan too has extended the same offer.
