The Hindu : Return of envoy to Pak., part of PM's initiative

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003

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Return of envoy to Pak., part of PM's initiative

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI July 15. The "return" of India's High Commissioner to Pakistan was part of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's initiative to improve relations with Islamabad.

These remarks from the foreign office spokesman came on a day the High Commissioner-designate, Shiv Shankar Menon, left for Pakistan to take up his new assignment. Asked what was expected from Mr. Menon taking up his post, the spokesman said: "We have to see how things go."

Mr. Menon said that Pakistan had to address New Delhi's concerns over cross-border terrorism to help create a proper atmosphere for dialogue. "My first effort would be to try and build friendly, cooperative and constructive relations with Pakistan," Mr. Menon, who has been India's envoy to China, Sri Lanka and Israel, said before leaving for Islamabad.

One of the first challenges he will face is restoration of air links. Pakistan, Indian officials say, is still to provide dates for talks between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries.

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