Sohail Mahmood is Pakistan's new envoy to India

New Delhi: Career diplomat Sohail Mahmood arrived in Delhi and took charge as the Pakistan's new High Commissioner to India on Wednesday, replacing Abdul Basit.

He is likely to present his credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind soon.

Mahmood presently was Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkey.

Mahmood, who has served in Pakistani missions in Washington, New York, Ankara and Bangkok, is 55 years old and holds a Masters degrees in History and International Relations.

He joined the Foreign Service in 1985 and is one of the senior most officers of the Pakistan Foreign Service. He is not known to have dealt with India in the Foreign Office earlier.

Mahmood took the charge at a time when India-Pakistan ties are at a new low following the mutilation of two Indian soldiers blamed on the Pakistan Army and the death penalty to India "spy" Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Basit, who had a turbulent tenure in New Delhi, was appointed Pakistan's envoy to India in 2014.