Pakistan appoints Syed Ibne Abbas as new envoy to India

Islamabad, Oct 10: Pakistan has appointed Syed Ibne Abbas as its new high commissioner to India replacing Salman Bashir.

Abbas was a political counsellor at the high commission in Delhi and was also a director for Kashmir affairs in the Pakistan Foreign Office.

Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani has been appointed as the new ambassador to the US, Dawn reported citing the government's decision Wednesday.

Jilani will be replaced by Abdul Basit, who is currently serving as the country's ambassador to Germany.

Syed Ibne Abbas was a political counsellor at the high commission in Delhi.

The US ambassador's post has been lying vacant for nearly five months after Sherry Rehman resigned May 11 following the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) losing the country's federal elections.

It is after a long time that a career diplomat has been appointed as Pakistan's ambassador to the US as the south Asian nation has been represented by political appointees, given its sensitive relationship with the US.

Prior to serving as foreign secretary, Jilani had served as ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, and high commissioner to Australia.

In another decision, Asif Durrani has been appointed as Pakistan's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

IANS