Pak envoy to India Sohail Mahmood to return back to New Delhi

In its bid to de-escalate tensions with India, Pakistan announced on Tuesday that it's High Commissioner to India will return to New Delhi tomorrow, according to a statement issued by Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sohail Mahmood was called back to Islamabad for consultations in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, the responsibility for which was claimed by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Mahmood left New Delhi on February 18.

"Pakistan's High Commissioner to India will be returning to New Delhi, after completion of consultations in Islamabad," the statement outlined. The statement also highlighted that a Pakistan delegation will be visiting New Delhi on March 14 to discuss the draft agreement on Kartarpur Corridor. The Indian delegation is due to visit Islamabad on March 28 for the same.

There has been intense global pressure against Pakistan to stop supporting terrorists and terror outfits after India mounted a diplomatic campaign in this regard. Succumbing to this, Pakistan, on Tuesday launched a crackdown against terror outfits, taking JeM kingpin Masood Azhar's brother and son, along with 42 other activists of banned outfits, into "preventive detention".

(With inputs from agencies.)