Pakistan is all set to change its man in New Delhi: it will name Salman Bashir, its current foreign secretary, as high commissioner to India, replacing Mr Shahid Malik.
This change is expected ahead of the February talks between the two countries’ foreign secretaries in Bhutan.
“Prime Minister (Yousaf Raza) Gilani has decided to make changes in the foreign ministry at the highest level to deal with challenges confronted by the country at the international level”, said an official at the Prime Minister’s office.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Germany Shahid Kamal is tipped to be the new foreign secretary. He is an experienced diplomat and has represented Pakistan in Sweden, Finland and other countries. Mr Bashir, meanwhile, will be sent to New Delhi to work for resumption of the bilateral dialogue, which was suspended after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Umer Khan Ali Sherzai, who hit the headlines over the Haj scam, is also being replaced.