Kampala, November 23
India is “cautiously optimistic” of getting its UK High Commissioner Kamlesh Sharma as the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

Asked about Sharma’s chances, foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon said, “We are cautiously optimistic”, but a decision would be taken tomorrow or day after by the head of states at their informal meetings during their retreats.

If Sharma gets the coveted post then he would be the first Indian to become the Commonwealth Secretary-General as earlier former foreign secretary Jagat Mehta’s bid did not find the approval of Commonwealth countries.

Asked about India’s mild stand on the suspension of Pakistan from the councils of Commonwealth, the foreign secretary said we were not the members of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which took the decision last night.

Sources said the decision to suspend Islamabad was vehemently supported and demanded by African and Caribbean countries, which said the Commonwealth could not afford to have two set of rules on such issues.

India has a big agenda of engagement with Islamabad, including cross-border terrorism, so India has “noted down the decision of the CMAG”.

“Our hope remains that Pakistan will return to stability and democracy as soon as possible”, external affairs ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna had said in a written statement.

Briefing news persons about the ongoing CHOGM meeting, Menon said the foreign ministers at their meeting yesterday and day before yesterday had a detailed agenda, which included trade, finance, membership, information and communication technologies and climate change.

Since the Commonwealth has 32 smaller countries, many of which are islands, the issue of climate change is occupying a prominent place in the discussions.