New Delhi - India on Monday welcomed the end of the political crisis in Pakistan and said it hoped that the government in Islamabad will be stable so it can devote its attention to fighting terrorism.

"What is happening in Pakistan is essentially its internal matter. Normally we do not comment on internal affairs of any country," India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told PTI news agency as the crisis in the neighbouring country seemed to subside.

New Delhi - Chilean President Michelle Bachelet began a five-day visit to India Monday to strengthen trade and political ties, officials said.

Bachelet was scheduled to be the chief guest at a state banquet to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Chile.

New Delhi, Mar 16 : Election Commission on Monday issued notices to Bihar Director General of Police D. N. Gautam and Addition Director General of Police Neelmani following violation of the Model Code of the conduct as they had called on Chief Ministers Nitish Kumar at his official residence on the day of Holi.

Taking a serious note of the officer''s misconduct, the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) had summoned them.

New Delhi, Mar 16 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani, on Monday acknowledged the need of implementation of one-rank one-pension for ex-defence servicemen.

"Armed forces are a category apart. And therefore this question of one rank, one pension has to be properly dealt with and justly endorsed," said Advani.

New Delhi, Mar 16 : A Mangalore court on Monday banned Sri Ram Sene Chief Pramod Muthalik from entering `Dakshin Kannada District' for one year.

Mangalore is the headquarter of Dakshin Kannada District.

Muthalik's Ram Sene was involved in an attack in a Mangalore pub in January this year.

The enraged activists of Sri Rama Sene had barged into the lounge bar "Amnesia", abused the owner and customers and beat up women, even as they tried to run to safety.

New Delhi, Mar 16 : Sharat Sabharwal, currently the special secretary in charge of administration, consular, paasport and visa affairs in the External Affairs Ministry, has been appointed as India's new envoy to Pakistan.

He will succeed Satyabrata Pal, whose extended term has ended on February 28. He is expected to take up his assignment shortly.

Sabharwal, a 1975 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS), has served as India's deputy high commissioner in Islamabad between 1995-1999.