ISLAMABAD, May 29: Amid tremendous pressure from the international community on the issue of cross-border infiltration, Islamabad is sending special emissaries to American and European capitals to explain Pakistan’s position.

An official source told Dawn here on Wednesday that five special envoys were setting off to the US and some European states within the next 24 hours as part of the diplomatic initiative to develop an understanding about Pakistan’s position on the issue of cross-border terrorism.

The Secretary Information, Anwer Mehmood, confirmed that the former president, Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, the ex-chairman of Senate, Wasim Sajjad, the former chief of the army staff, Jehangir Karamat, the former secretary in the ministry of foreign affairs, Najamuddin Sheikh and the just recalled Ambassador to India, Jehangir Ashraf Qazi, were among those nominated by the government as its emissaries. They have been given a special briefing, regarding their assignment, at the foreign office, sources said.

They will be leaving on different flights, Mr Mehmood said without giving details about their respective destinations.