New Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale arrives in Pakistan

Gautam H Bambawale was named the new Indian envoy to Islamabad in December after his predecessor TCA Raghavan completed his two year tenure in Pakistan.

Indian deputy high-commissioner in Islamabad JP Singh received the new Indian envoy at Wagah border crossing.

The new Indian envoy to Pakistan was previously posted as the Indian ambassador to Bhutan.

Bambawale, departed for the federal capital Islamabad after his arrival in Lahore to assume his new charge.

The new Indian envoy assuming his responsibilities amid tough challenges in bilateral relations with Pakistan.

The envoy was quoted by Indian media reports as saying that he will work for better bilateral relations between India and Pakistan.

His appointment comes at time when India and Pakistan have decided to start a comprehensive bilateral dialogue in December during the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad.

Bambawale is reported to be an expert on China. He has worked in Germany, US and China. He became the first Consul General of India in Guangzhou, China, in 2007.

He also remained the Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Indian foreign ministry, responsible for relations with China, Japan and South Korea and other countries of the region.