Bhasin emerges frontrunner as new envoy to Islamabad

Former Indian High Commissioner to South Africa Harsh Kumar Bhasin has emerged as the front-runner to be named India's new envoy to Islamabad, although another strong contender is believed to be a former ambassador to Denmark.

Both India and Pakistan are likely to name their respective high commissioners shortly as a first step in a bid to normalise their strained bilateral ties before resumption of formal dialogue to resolve their long-pending dispute.

Foreign office sources here said that although Bhashin was being considered for Denmark in place of veteran journalist H.K. Dua, who has returned to India and the former has barely 15 months left before he retires "the decision to name the new high commissioner for Pakistan depends on whether the Government of India is looking at the short term or long term appointment."

Another name in contention for high commissioner's post is that of Shashank, who was India's ambassador to Denmark before taking over as secretary (economics) in the foreign office.

The possibility of Pakistan naming its incumbent foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar and a former ambassador to India as its high commissioner was dismissed as speculation.