New Indian envoy meets Sharif's top aide on foreign affairs

India's new High Commissioner- designate to Pakistan Gautam H Bambawale today called on Premier Nawaz Sharif's top aide, who emphasised the envoy's crucial role in strengthening bilateral ties.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi welcomed the Indian envoy and wished him a successful and productive tenure.
"He highlighted the important role of Bambawale in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries," the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
No further details of the meeting were provided by the Foreign Office.
Bambawale, who replaced T C A Raghavan after his retirement, arrived in the country last month and has not yet presented his credentials to the President of Pakistan which is a part of official protocol to start functioning as the High Commissioner.

On his arrival, Bambawale, who was earlier India's envoy to Bhutan, had said that he was coming to Pakistan with the message of friendship and the intentions of improving bilateral relations.
"We want to strengthen our relationship with Pakistan," the senior diplomat had said.
Bambawale's appointment comes amid fresh strains between the two countries after the Pathankot attack, which led to postponement of the Foreign Secretary-level talks.