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India appoints new diplomats in Pakistan and China; Ajay Bisaria new Indian HC to Pakistan; Gautam Bambawale shifted to China

September 17, 2017

NEW DELHI: Sep 17 (INP) India has appointed Ajay Bisaria as new High Commissioner to Pakistan to replace Gautam Bambawale, Indian media on Sunday. Bisaria has formerly served as the Ambassador to Poland. Sources said the new HC will reach Pakistan in October. It is said that Bambawale has been appointed Ambassador to China. According to Indian media reports, the reason behind the high-level diplomatic shuffle came as former Ambassador to China Vijay Gokhale was made Secretary Economic Relations in the Ministry of External Affairs. Gokhale was reported to have played a major role in the Doklam crisis pertaining to border standoff between contentious rivals India and China. Earlier this year, Pakistan's former high commissioner in India Abdul Basit also took early retirement from his post. During Bambawale’s tenure Pakistan and India’s relations witnessed several lows and ups, with the most notable scenario being the Pakistan forces getting hold of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. Bambawale and Bisaria are widely acknowledged as MEA's best and both have in the past handled several sensitive postings. Bisaria has also had an impeccable career as a diplomat and is considered an expert on Russia and central Asia. Addressing Russia's nascent strategic proximity to Pakistan will no doubt be an important focus area for him. A savvy diplomat, Bisaria is also considered one of MEA's most presentable faces. In one of his most significant career assignments, Bisaria served as private secretary and aide to then PM A B Vajpayee from 1999 to 2004 and in that capacity handled a range of defence, economic and foreign policy issues. INP/AH