Touching base

Former NSA Brajesh Mishra is now back in the strategic circuit and so, it was no surprise that he was invited to Prime Minister8217;s dinner for US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last Saturday at 7 RCR. And Rice, who was his counterpart in those tense days and months after 9/11, was pleasantly pleased to meet him there. She is said to have asked him 8220;which cheek8221; he would kiss to greet her? And after the brief laughter that followed, she extended both her cheeks, indicating the warmth between the two former NSAs. She is believed to have fondly recalled the tough times the two handled in 2001-02 while launching the campaign against terror.