ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s High Commissioner-designate to India Abdul Basit would reach Delhi in the first week of March to assume the charge of his new assignment.

The Foreign Office notified on Monday Mr Basit’s appointment as the next High Commissioner to India. The notification followed the receipt of Mr Basit’s agrément – diplomatic acceptance of the appointment by the host country – from India last week.

Mr Basit is currently ambassador to Germany.

He was earlier tipped to succeed former Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani as the head of the diplomatic service. However, the government changed its plans at the last minute and instead made him the High Commissioner to India, another very important diplomatic assignment in the Foreign Service.

Mr Basit joined the Foreign Service in 1982 and has held various assignments in Pakistan missions abroad and at the headquarters.