Potential for good ties between India, Pakistan: Raghavan

The last few years have "shown the potential" which exists for good relations between India and Pakistan, said T.C.A. Raghavan, who succeeds Sharat Sabharwal as the high commissioner to Pakistan.

Addressing mediapersons in Amritsar in India Monday before crossing over to Pakistan, High Commissioner-designate Raghavan said he wanted to tackle the challenges and threats that India-Pakistan bilateral relations face.

Raghavan reached Lahore via the Wagah border.

"There is a change in environment in Pakistan and certainly that is very important. In my view the last few years have shown the potential which exists when there are good relations between India and Pakistan. At the same time there are a number of challenges and threats which are posed to bilateral relations. So my effort will be to move forward on all these issues," said Raghavan.

Raghavan, who has earlier served as deputy high commissioner in Islamabad from 2003 to 2007, is known as a diplomat with a thorough understanding of Pakistan's political dynamics.

Outgoing Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal is expected to return to India by the end of this month, said Dawn.com.

A 1982-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Raghavan was India's high commissioner to Singapore and joint secretary of the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI) division in the ministry of external affairs.

According to a report in the Pakistani media, Raghavan could have to wait for some time for presenting his credentials since President Asif Ali Zardari is away from the country on a private visit.