ISLAMABAD:Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday appointed former foreign secretary and ex-chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shaharyar Khan, as his special representative for Track-II diplomacy with India.

Answering a question during a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry confirmed Khan's appointment.

"The Prime Minister has given Ambassador Shaharyar Khan the responsibility of conducting track-II diplomacy in order to improve our ties with India," he said.

Shaharyar M Khan served as chairman of the cricket board between 2003 and 2006. He has also formerly served as a diplomat and he has authored "Cricket — a Bridge of Peace", a book on sport’s links with diplomacy.

Khan has also co-written "Shadows Across the Playing Field: 60 Years of India-Pakistan Cricket."

"Ambassador Shaharyar is in India today and is meeting the Indian leadership.Track-II diplomacy has been a part of the overall peace process between Pakistan and India, and complements the bilateral efforts for peace," he added.

Shaharyar Khan met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and handed him a letter on premier Sharif's behalf conveying a message of goodwill, DawnNews reported.

The former foreign secretary is also scheduled to meet Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid.