May 28, 2003	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25,1424

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ISLAMABAD, May 27: Pakistan on Monday named Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan as its high commissioner to India, officials confirmed here on Tuesday.

The decision was communicated by Islamabad’s deputy high commissioner Munawar Bhatti to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Monday night, officials said.

The nomination — which followed India’s Monday announcement regarding resumption of Lahore-New Delhi shuttle bus service and release of some Pakistanis detained in Indian jails — came 20 days after New Delhi sought Islamabad’s endorsement for the appointment of Shivshanker Menon as its new high commissioner in Islamabad.

An official announcement about Mr Aziz Khan’s appointment would await receipt of New Delhi’s consent, officials said, adding that Pakistan had cleared the appointment of the new Indian envoy in 48 hours.

Pakistan’s move to appoint Mr Aziz Khan as its high commissioner in New Delhi ends the speculation, sparked by the chance mention of the name of Islamabad’s ambassador to China Mr Riaz Mohammad Khan for the post by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali in an interview with India’s state-run Doordarshan TV network on May 17.

The new Indian high commissioner-designate is expected to arrive in Islamabad around the third week of June, sources said, adding that Mr Aziz Khan would also take the charge of his new assignment in New Delhi around the same time.