India may send new envoy to Pakistan

The buzz in South Block is that special secretary Sharat Sabharwal will take over as high commissioner to Islamabad when Satyabrata Pal retires at the end of February.

There is also talk that India’s ambassador to Germany Meera Shankar may succeed high profile ambassador Ronen Sen in the US.

Islamabad’s constant flip flops after 26/11 had put New Delhi under tremendous public pressure. With Pakistan refusing to play ball, there was talk that the government would keep the envoy post vacant after Pal retires, to send the message that if Islamabad continued its cavalier attitude, New Delhi would gradually cut off ties. But the fact that Sabharwal’s name is being discussed is a clear indication that India is satisfied with Pakistan’s response to its dossier.

But analysts are surprised why Ronen Sen should be replaced now. There is no urgency for filling his post and Sen, a favourite of Rajiv Gandhi, has 10 Janpath’s backing. He has been in extension and could carry on.