Philip Barton announced as new British High Commissioner to Pakistan

New ambassador has served as the Afghanistan/Pakistan coordinator as part of the Secretariat supporting NSC.

The United Kingdom government announced in a press release on Wednesday that Philip Barton will be the new British High Commissioner in Islamabad.

The new commissioner, who will succeed Adam Thomson in January 2014, comes with extensive experience with South Asia having held a number of positions that dealt with Pakistan and Afghanistan, including being the Director of Foreign Policy on Af-Pak coordination in the Cabinet office as part of the Secretariat supporting the National Security Council.

Barton, who is currently posted in Washington DC, has served as the Additional Director for South Asia in the FCO; and enjoyed a posting in New Delhi.

The release gave history of Barton's service, detailing that he joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1986.

He has also served as Private Secretary to Prime Ministers John Major and Tony Blair. He has served postings in Gibraltar as Deputy Governor, Nicosia as Deputy High Commissioner and Caracas.

On his appointment as ambassador to Pakistan, Barton said, "it is an honour and a privilege for me to be appointed to represent the United Kingdom in Pakistan."

"As Prime Minister David Cameron said when he visited Islamabad in June, we in the UK care deeply about Pakistan, its people and its future."

Barton also highlighted the diverse migrant community in England that orginate from Pakistan. "The one million people of Pakistani origin in the UK are a bridge between our two countries. I look forward to advancing our shared agenda and common interests over the years ahead."