Islamabad: India on February 18 granted visa to senior Pakistani diplomat Munnawar Saeed Bhatti, who will take over as Deputy High Commissioner in place of expelled Charge d' Affaires Jalil Abbas Jilani.

"The necessary administrative formalities granting assignment visa to Bhatti have been completed and his passport stamped with India visa have been handed over to him," Vikram Misri, Charge d' Affaires of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad said.

Bhatti replaces Jilani, who was expelled earlier this month after he was named in a first information report (FIR) by Delhi police for allegedly handing over money to activists of the All Party Hurriyat Conference. Four other staffers were also declared persona non grata by New Delhi along with Jilani.

In retaliation, Pakistan also expelled Sudhir Vyas, Charge d' Affaires of Indian High Commission in Islamabad along with a diplomat and three staffers.

Pakistan is also expected to grant visa to Indian diplomat T C A Raghavan, to take over as Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad later on February 18.

The granting of visas is expected to lower diplomatic tensions between the two countries since last year, which has so far seen staff strengths at the High Commissions being reduced by over 60 per cent.

Currently the strength of the two missions has been brought down to around 46 including the Deputy High Commissioners.

PTI