After a period of 9 months, membership applications of Indian diplomats based in Pakistan, including that of Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria, for the Islamabad Club are set to be approved by the Ministry of Interior, the Times of India reported on Tuesday.
The No-Objection Certificates (NOC) for the applications will be granted by the Interior Ministry.
Final approval can be seen as a sign of increasing efforts by both countries to improve relations in the absence of any formal dialogue process.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had highlighted India’s commitment to “meaningful and constructive dialogue” with Pakistan after the newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan reached out to him.
The Indian government had repeatedly raised the issue of membership at the Islamabad Club with Pakistan.
The club remains a favourite for foreign diplomats in the country’s capital city.
Pakistan had also blocked its own diplomats from being members of the Delhi Golf Club and Delhi Gymkhana.
Relations between the two countries have been tense over accusations of mistreatment of diplomats.
Earlier this year, a 1992 code of conduct designed to prevent harassment or intimidation of diplomats had be revived.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his counterpart Sushma Swaraj may have a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month.
[…] Membership of Indian diplomats at Islamabad Club may be approved […]
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