Art can help bridge the “political differences” between India and some of its neighbours, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said on Wednesday in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

“We have seen in so many ways that politics can divide neighbours from each other,” he said inaugurating a handicrafts exhibition of South Asian countries, including Pakistan. “In the South Asian region, we have good political relations amongst our neighbours but there are sadly few lingering tensions of which we were reminded not so long ago in our own country as we commemorated the anniversary of an incident sadly which came from neighbouring land,” Tharoor said.

He did not specify but was clearly referring to the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008 which originated from Pakistan.

“I am really impressed by the products from Pakistan and other countries. Sharing of creativity has the potential to turn relations across political divisions,” Tharoor said.

As he went around to see the exhibition, the minister appreciated the ‘truck’ art from Pakistan and said India could learn about the “wonderful” work.

He had special praise for women artisans, saying the networks built by them are “more deeper and more effective than those built by men.”

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