Tuesday, March 14 2006 20:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In the first high-level contact, India is sending a special envoy to Palestine to talk to the newly-elected Hamas regime, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed informed the Rajya Sabha today (Mar 14 2006).

C R Gharekhan, Government's special envoy for West Asia, is expected to leave shortly for discussions with the leadership of Hamas, which swept to power in the recent elections.

Gharekhan will also be visiting Israel.

Intervening in the debate on the working of the External Affairs Ministry, Ahamed said India's diplomatic relations and growing trade and economic ties with Israel in no way had any "negative impact on relationship with Palestine."

India will continue to support the cause for a homeland for Palestinian people, he said.

Ahamed announced that India has been invited as an observer to the Arab Summit to be held in Khartoum later this month.

He said the Government was considering extending compensation to 16 Indians who were among the 64 killed in a stampede in Saudi Arabia during Haj pilgrimage.

"India-Arab relations are going from strength to strength," he said.