Better Indo-Pak ties to help solve problems in region: outgoing Indian HC

ISLAMABAD: The outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Dr TCA Raghvan, has said that an improvement in ties between Pakistan and India would greatly help in overcoming problems being confronted by the region and pave the way for betterment of the people of South Asia.

He was talking to guests in a farewell dinner hosted by Hon Uruguay Counsel General Senator Anwer Beg at his residence Jhelum House on Thursday.

The dinner was attended by intellectuals, media-persons and more than 10 envoys including Rodolfo J. Martine Saravia Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Argentine, Hiroshi Inomata Ambassador of Japan, Ms. Martine Dorance, Ambassador of France, U San Myint Oo, Ambassador of Myanmar, Dr Song Jong Hwan, Ambassador of South Korea, and Suhrab Hussain, High Commissioner of Bangladesh, former diplomat Riaz Hussain Khokhar, Shahid Malik, economist Dr Ashfaq Ahmad, MH Hanafi, Professor Rauf Hasan, Dr Shahid Masood and Zahid Hussain.

The Indian high commissioner who is returning to New Delhi for good since he has attained superannuation said that he was leaving Pakistan on a positive note as the relations are heading toward trajectory of betterment.

ATC Raghvan is expected to be retained by his governmentfor advice on the South Asian affairs like his predecessor Shiv Shnakar Menon who was appointed National Security Adviser (NSA) to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

He declined to divulge any detail of such arrangement. He said that Pakistan and India will have to reduce their tensions for the sake of their respective people.It is expected that the schedule for meeting of the foreign secretaries of the two countries is being worked out by the two capitals. India is prepared to play its role in this regard, he added.

Senator Anwar Beg paid rich tribute to the sagacity of the outgoing high commissioner and said that Dr Raghvan has performed his role in bringing his leadership to Pakistan. The outgoing high commissioner did a wonderful job when he was posted in Pakistan twelve years as deputy high commissioner. He emphasised the need to resolve disputes between the two countries through dialogue and peaceful means.