Decision on Pak HC’s return to India likely today

ISLAMABAD: A high level meeting to be held here today (Monday) to determine schedule for return of Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood.

Pakistan HC was called here the other day for taking part in consultations regarding Pakistan-India ties in the wake of recent maltreatment by Indian secret outfits to Pakistan’s senior diplomats and their families in violation of Vienna Convention and belligerent attitude of India towards Pakistan.

The diplomatic sources told The News here Sunday evening that Sohail Mahmood would return to Indian capital at an appropriate time but no schedule had been finalised in

this regard.

The sources reminded that Indian high commissioner in Islamabad Ajai Basaria visited New Delhi last week for consultations. In case of Pakistan such consultations aren’t an extraordinary step but dash by Sohail Mahmood this time has some significance due to certain adverse developments. The government has already withdrawn Pakistan’s Commerce Minister for WHO conference in India scheduled for this week as mark of protest. Pakistan will stay away from this international conference and it has been notified to the WTO that the security situation in Indian capital has compelled Pakistan to revise its decision about participating in the conference.

The high level meeting is likely to be chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and it will also be attended by representative of top brass, heads of intelligence agencies and senior officials from the Foreign Office. Next step by Pakistan would be decided in the meeting. If he doesn’t come back from his private visit to the US and UK today, the meeting would take place a day later.

Sohail Mahmood who is here since Saturday also had consultations with the senior officials of the Foreign Office. He will be having extensive meeting with National Security Adviser (NSA) to the Prime Minister Lt General (R) Nasser Khan Janjua and Foreign Secretary Ms Tehmina Janjua separately during his stay in Islamabad.