ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: In yet another sign of de-escalation in tensions, the high commissioners of Pakistan and India resumed their duties on Saturday.
The high commissioners were called back by their governments in the wake of escalation in tensions between the two nuclear neighbours following the Pulwama suicide bombing on February 14 in which 44 personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed. India blamed Pakistan for the suicide bombing in a knee-jerk reaction, as always.
Ajay Bisaria was called back to New Delhi a day after the suicide bombing. Pakistan also called back its High Commissioner in New Delhi Sohail Mehmood on February 18 for consultations.
Earlier, the Indian External Affairs Ministry (EAM) said Bisaria will be returning to Islamabad as he had completed consultations in New Delhi.
"The High Commissioner of India to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, is returning to Islamabad after having completed his consultations in India. He will reach Islamabad on March 9, 2019 and resume his duties," Indian MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a statement.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood resumed his charge in New Delhi on Saturday.
On Tuesday, information about Mr. Sohail’s return to India was conveyed to the acting Indian High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia when he was invited to the Foreign Office by Director General (South Asia and Saarc) Dr Mohammad Faisal.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India will be returning to New Delhi after completion of consultations in Islamabad, the Foreign Office later announced in a media statement.
Prior to departing for New Delhi, Sohail Mahmood met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi who told him that Pakistan wanted de-escalation in tension with India.
Sohail also had a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad.
Sohail will have series of meetings with the Indian External Affairs Ministry high-ups and offer an olive branch, yet another time, on behalf of Pakistan to the Indian side.
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.
The coordinated move by the two countries has kindled hopes of a thaw in tensions between the two neighbours who were on the brink of war when India launched its so-called air strike in Balakot.
In a tit for tat action, Pakistan pounded open spaces in the Indian territory close to the Kashmir border conveying a loud and clear message to India that it also had full military capability and preparedness to strike anywhere in India in response to unprovoked retaliation though it wanted peace and stability in the region.
The Pakistani strikes led to a dogfight between the fighter planes of two countries in which two Indian warplanes were shot down with the debris of one of its aircraft, a Mig-21, falling in Azad Kashmir and subsequent capture of its pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
However, as a unilateral gesture of peace widely appreciated by the international community, Pakistan handed Abhinandan Varthaman within 72 hours of his capture.
Prime Minister Imran Khan repeatedly offered his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to enter into dialogue process to talk out all contentious issues, including terrorism, between the two countries but the latter rejected the offer for political reasons.
The apparent thaw in tensions between the two South Asian neighbours came when the international community, including the US and UK, and some friendly countries of Pakistan played their role.
Another positive indicator of de-escalation in tensions is that the two countries have decided to meet next week on the Kartarpur Corridor initiative.
The Pakistani delegation will meet the Indian officials at Wagha-Attari border on the Indian side to finalise the draft agreement on the Kartarpur Corridor on March 14.
The Indian government had suggested that talks on Kartarpur Corridor should be held at Attari.
“We plan to send a delegation to India, on 14th March, 2019. Members of the journalistic community are more than welcome to join and I presume that the Indian authorities will facilitate the Pakistani media, reciprocating the manner in which Pakistan facilitated the Indian media personnel during the Kartarpur Ground Breaking Ceremony” said Dr Muhammad Faisal, spokesperson for the Foreign Office of Pakistan, while talking to reporters in the weekly media briefing.
