Abbas new Pak envoy to India

Career diplomat Syed Ibne Abbas will succeed Salman Bashir as Pakistan's next high commissioner to India, as the latter relinquishes his office by November 30.

Abbas served as political counsellor at the Pak high commission here in 2001-04. He has also been director of Kashmir Affairs at the Pak foreign office and director-general of the South Asia division. Abbas joined the foreign service of Pakistan in 1983.

As political counsellor, he had an important role during the Agra summit, a milestone in the relationship. He was also in the thick of events when then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee visited Islamabad. Bashir paid a farewell call on Friday on External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

The change comes at a time when both countries face mounting tension over ceasefire violations across the Line of Control. The move was expected with the change of government in Pakistan, with Nawaz Sharif becoming prime minister.