New Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit arrives in India

Senior Pakistani diplomat Abdul Basit, set to take over as his country's new high commissioner in India, arrived here Sunday.

Basit, who has held various assignments in Pakistani missions and at the Foreign Office in Islamabad, was received at the airport here by a representative of India's external affairs ministry, Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Mansoor A. Khan and officers of the Pakistani mission, said a high commission statement.

Basit, who was born in 1958 and holds a master's degree in international relations, joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1982.

He has held important assignments at Pakistani missions abroad, including at Moscow, New York, Sana'a, Geneva and London. His immediate previous stint was as envoy to Germany since 2012.

He has also served as spokesperson for the Pakistan Foreign Office.

His appointment comes at a time when the Nawaz Sharif government in Pakistan has expressed keenness to improve ties with India.

His predecessor, Salman Bashir, relinquished charge Feb 28 and has returned home.