Indian-origin Farah Pandith is Barack envoy for US Muslims

WASHINGTON: Farah Pandith, an Indian-American , has been formally sworn in as the first US Special Representative to Muslim communities as part of the Obama administration���s efforts to reach out to the Islamic world.

At a ceremony held at State Department, Farah���s mother held the Quran on which she took the oath administered by secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Tuesday.

Pandith, 41, whose family migrated from J&K in the 1960s, is the first Special Representative to Muslim Communities of the US.

Wishing Pandith success in her new job, Clinton said she was best suitable for this position. ���It is apparent now more than ever that we have to do more to promote dialogue and diplomacy, and Farah will play a key role in that process for us,��� she said. Farah was joined by her brother, her aunt and her cousin.

Hillary cites Frontier Gandhi at iftar

Citing the words of India���s secular leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as Frontier Gandhi, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said the Obama administration is committed to create ���bridges of understanding and respect��� with the Muslim world.

���As one of my wonderful young aides ��� Huma Abedin ��� summed up in the words of Abdul Ghaffar Khan, that we need to be inspired by our leaders to fight poverty, injustice and hate with, ���the weapon of the Prophet ��� patience and righteousness���. Well, that, to me, sums up much of what we celebrate tonight as we break fast,��� Clinton said at the iftar dinner on the occasion of Id.