Islamabad: Indian High Commissioner-designate to Pakistan Shiv Shankar Menon on August 9 presented his credentials to President Pervez Musharraf, marking resumption of top-level diplomatic ties after a gap of 20 months.

Menon was presented a guard of honour by a contingent of Pakistan Army on arrival at President's House in Islamabad.

In December 2001, India and Pakistan snapped diplomatic and transport links after gunmen attacked the Indian Parliament.

The two countries agreed to restore full diplomatic ties after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said in April that he would make a final bid for peace.

Menon, 53, arrived in Pakistan on July 15.

"My task is to create an environment for peaceful and friendly relations with Pakistan," he told reporters as he crossed the Wagah border into Pakistan in July.

On their way to normalise relations, both India and Pakistan also resumed the New Delhi-Lahore bus service in July.

Pakistan High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan, a career diplomat who last served as Pakistan's Foreign office spokesman, has already assumed his office in New Delhi.

PTI