New Delhi: Government on October 22 was non-committal on when it would send a new High Commissioner to Pakistan.

Following India's decision to pull back its troops from the international border, there has been speculation about further de-escalatory steps including sending its High Commissioner to Islamabad.

''We are moving into ifs and buts,'' an External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters when asked whether Harsh Bhasin, who is slated to head the Indian mission in Pakistan, would be in his new slot by the year-end.

''What we have seen is the decision to re-deploy,'' the spokesman added.

India had recalled its High Commissioner to Pakistan V K Nambiar soon after the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament. Nambiar has since moved to New York as India's permanent representative to the UN.

Pakistan too called back its High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi after India sought his recall and he has since taken over Pakistan's Ambassador to the US in Washington.

PTI