New Delhi, June 23
India and Pakistan have “agreed in principle” to reopen their consulates in Karachi and Mumbai and restore the strengths of their respective missions in Islamabad and New Delhi to 110 from the existing 75.
Foreign Office spokesman Navtej Sarna today told reporters that the two decisions were taken during External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh’s intensive talks with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri in Qingdao, China. on the margins of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) conference.
“This will be further discussed and operationalised when the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries meet on June 27 and 28,” the spokesman said in response to a query.
Asked to comment on the controversy regarding Jinnah House in Mumbai, the spokesman said the Foreign Secretaries would discuss all issues connected with the reopening of the consulates. The Jinnah House, the ownership of which is claimed by Pakistan, is currently with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
