The much-expected reopening of Indian and Pakistani consulates in Karachi and Mumbai respectively in the New Year was delayed Sunday as Islamabad was yet to get its temporary office ready while India completed renovation work of its buildings and awaited the nod from the government in Islamabad to open it.
As per the Joint Statement issued during President Pervez Musharraf's visit to India, both countries had agreed to open the consulates on the New Year.
The reopening could now take a while as Pakistan is still in the process of finalising its temporary location ready to run its office.
As per the understanding, both the consulates were to have been opened simultaneously.
"There are some location issues in Mumbai being finalised. As much as we would have liked to open the consulates in time, the delay was due to location problems. We are trying to open as soon as possible," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam told PTI in Islamabad Sunday.
The agreement to open the consulates, which had been closed since 1992, was seen as a diplomatic breakthrough between the two countries as Pakistan has agreed to open its consulate in Mumbai without insisting on its demand for acquisition of Jinnah House, the residence of its founder, which India has converted into a South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation museum.
Subsequently Pakistan selected a commercial area shown by the Maharastra government to construct its permanent building and currently is in the process of finalising its temporary location to run its consulate office.
The finalisation of the temporary office was stated to be the reason for delay in reopening.
Since the agreement, India has undertaken the renovation work of its properties in Karachi, which were completely damaged in mob attack following demolition of the Babri Masjid.
Teams of Indian engineers in Karachi completed the renovation work with inputs from Indian diplomats in Islamabad who made frequent visits to the site.
Indian officials in Islamabad say that the consulate building, the residence of the consulate general and staff quarters were ready for use.
India has suggested to Pakistan that since Islamabad was taking time, it could permit India to reopen its consulate in Karachi, but the government in Islamabad insisted on simultaneity.
The reopening of the consulates, coupled with the commencement of the Khokhrapar-Munnabao train service connecting Rajastan with Sindh province would be big boon to people of Sindh as most of them have to travel to Islamabad, which is about 1000 km away, to get visas.
The Muthahida Quami Movement, which was an important ally in the federal and provincial governments, has played an important role in influencing Pakistan government to agree for reopening of the consulates as well as to run the train service, which will be the second between the two countries.
The train service for which the preparations were completed on both sides was scheduled to run from Sunday as per the understanding reached during Musharraf's visit. But now, it is will resume after the visit of the Pakistan railway officials delegation to New Delhi next week.