ISLAMABAD, Feb 9: India is likely to appoint its ambassador to Bhutan Sudhir Vyas as the next high commissioner to Pakistan at that end of Satyabrata Pal’s term later this month.

Highly-placed sources told Dawn that Mr Pal, who did not accept an extension offered to him by the Indian government, would be leaving on March 2.

Several people, including additional secretary of the ministry of external affairs Vivek Katju, special secretary Sharat Sabharwal and Mr Vyas, were under consideration and India appears to have decided to place Mr Vyas at the crucial post at a time when relations between the two countries have not been at their best since the Mumbai attacks.

Mr Vyas has earlier served as deputy high commissioner and charge d’affaires in Islamabad. He was expelled in 2003 in a tit-for-tat move after India had sent back Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner Jalil Abbas Jilani.

Mr Vyas is said to be related to Vivek Katju, a well-known hawk in the Indian external affairs ministry and whose name was dropped from the list of probables because of fears that Pakistan would reject his nomination.

Foreign Office sources said that India had not intimated to it the name of Mr Pal’s successor.