Islamabad, Sep 4 (IANS) Pakistan may send State Minister for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and not Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri to a conference on economic reconstruction for Afghanistan that New Delhi is hosting Nov 18.

Although foreign ministers of 18 countries, including the US, are expected to attend, Pakistan wants to send a message to India: that Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri need not be there, since India does not currently have a foreign minister, The News International reported.

Kasuri has been repeatedly having a dig at India in interviews and statements that much as he would like to "lift the telephone and talk" to his counterpart, to engage in informal diplomacy and resolve issues, he realises that India does not have a full-fledged foreign minister.

India has pledged $500 million for Afghanistan's reconstruction, more than what Pakistan has offered.

The Delhi conference will be opened by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The first such conference was held in Kabul last year and attended by 11 countries. The Delhi meet will be attended by foreign ministers of 18 countries, including neighbouring Afghanistan and donor nations like the US, Britain and Russia.

Heads of 10 multilateral organisations like the UN, UNDP, World Bank, IMF, European Commission and ADB would also be invited to the moot.

The conference offers an opportunity for the region to work together to promote security and development in Afghanistan.

The focus of the conclave is expected to be on promotion of specific forms of economic cooperation in Afghanistan in areas of critical concern, including electricity, border management, trade promotion and investment, the newspaper said.