Wagah (Indo-Pak border): Pakistan's High Commissioner-designate and an old India hand, Aziz Ahmed Khan, on June 30 crossed over to India from this border checkpost to take up his new assignment in New Delhi in the first concrete step towards restoration of full diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Accompanied by wife Ayasha, Khan would travel by road to New Delhi where he is expected to reach in the evening.

Career diplomat Khan, who previously served in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi as Deputy High Commissioner, would take charge on July 1.

Indian High Commissioner-designate and current Ambassador to China Shivshankar Menon is expected to reach Islamabad in the third week of next month.

Khan's arrival marks the restoration of diplomatic ties at the highest level, which were disrupted after the attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001.

He succeeds Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, who was recalled by Islamabad at the instance of New Delhi on the ground of parity. India had recalled its then High Commissioner Vijay Nambiar in the last week of December 2001 following the terrorist attack on Parliament.

PTI