ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood is getting back to New Delhi today (Saturday) with an important message of his government for India.The high commissioner had a significant meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday to seek his guidance in dealing with the ongoing crisis between Pakistan and India.He will have series of meetings with the high-ups concerned in Indian External Affairs Ministry soon after settling down back in Indian capital.He would offer an olive branch yet another time on behalf of Pakistan to the Indians for eliminating standoff between the two countries and resolution of all outstanding disputes through peaceful means including Kashmir issue. Sohail Mahmood, who is a strong contender for the slot of the Foreign Secretary, will be returning to Islamabad early next month for assuming the office since incumbent Ms. Tehmina Janjua will be attaining superannuation in second week of next month.Highly-placed diplomatic sources told The News/Jang Friday evening that Sohail Mahmood had been confided by the authorities concerned to get ready for his new assignment. It is unlikely that Sohail Mahmood will receive a befitting send-off before leaving New Delhi due to the state of tension between Pakistan and India. He had several meetings ever since he came to Islamabad from New Delhi for consultations in the wake of Pulwama incident and immediate return of Indian high commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Basaria to New Delhi on summoning by his government.Sohail Mahmood had been present during all meetings here and Rawalpindi pertaining to evolving a strategy for dealing with India in the face of its aggressive posturing.He was given protocol almost equal to the foreign secretary during his engagements in Pakistan, sources said. Sohail Mahmood, who is known for maintaining his cool even in the worst circumstances, would be having meetings in New Delhi Secretariat’s South Block where the Indian External Affairs Ministry is housed.He will be having a meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale in first place. The sources reminded that the recent developments in South Asia have made the assignment of Pakistan’s high commissioner in Indian capital more complex since diplomatic intricacies are more demanding in the wake of Indian behavior.Meanwhile, sources don’t rule out a brief extension in service of incumbent foreign secretary till normalization of situation in the region.Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Basaria is also returning from New Delhi on Saturday.
03-09-2019, 07:56 PM
Pak HC leaves today with message for Delhi
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