Islamabad: Pakistan's tough-talking journalist-turned-diplomat Maleeha Lodhi has been appointed as the country's new High Commissioner to Britain.

Lodhi, who has worked as Pakistan's Ambassador to the US twice in the past, would succeed Abdul Kadir Jaffar in early June shortly before President Pervez Musharraf's visit to London and Washington.

Lodhi was first chosen as Pakistan's Ambassador to Washington by former Premier Benazir Bhutto during her tenure.

Her services were extended by Musharraf's regime and she returned home in 2002 after completing her second tenure.

Prior to her Washington appointment, Lodhi edited Pakistan daily 'The News'.

She was recently conferred the top state award, Nishan-i-Imtiaz, by Musharraf.

PTI