The Hindu : Pak. to clear Menon's papers 'soon'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 09, 2003

International

International

Pak. to clear Menon's papers 'soon'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD MAY 8 . The Pakistani establishment is surprised at the speed with which the Indian Government has forwarded the papers seeking an agreement for the appointment of Shiv Shankar Menon as the new High Commissioner.

The Acting High Commissioner of the Indian mission, T.C.A. Raghavan, handed over within 24 hours of the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, unveiling the confidence building measures (CBMs), the relevant papers on Mr. Menon.

Indications are that the Pakistan Foreign Office would clear the papers soon. "We don't envisage any difficulties in accepting a seasoned diplomat like Mr. Menon serving in an important station like Beijing. We would match the speed of the Indian Government in clearing the papers," a senior Pakistan Foreign Office official said.

India's decision to forward the name of Mr. Menon without losing time is seen in diplomatic circles as a good sign for normalisation of ties with Pakistan.

"It is certainly a signal of eagerness on the part of India to return to a phase of normal diplomatic relations," a western diplomat said.

However, there are doubts over how soon Mr. Menon could take up his new assignment given the sensitivity of his current job and the tough nature of the job in Islamabad. Diplomatic circles believe that the process of takeover could take four to six weeks.

With India having taken the lead in choosing its chief diplomat in Islamabad, the pressure is now on Pakistan to quicken the process. Several names including the former Minister of State and Foreign Secretary, Inam-ul-Haq, are doing the rounds.

However, sources suggest that Mr. Haq is not inclined to accept the job.

Another name being suggested is that of the Foreign Office spokesman, Aziz Ahmed Khan. A senior diplomat in the rank of Secretary, Mr. Khan had done a stint in New Delhi for over two years as deputy chief of the mission in the eighties.

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