New British envoy to Pakistan arrives in Islamabad to take up assignment

This handout photo released by British High Commission, Pakistan shows the British High Commissioner-designate to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, as she arrives in Islamabad on July 30, 2023, to take up her new assignment as the European country's new envoy. (Photo courtesy: British High Commission)
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Updated 30 July 2023
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New British envoy to Pakistan arrives in Islamabad to take up assignment

  • Jane Marriott has previously served as British high commissioner to Kenya and British ambassador to Yemen
  • Marriott says delighted to be in Pakistan, interested in ensuring ‘sustainable’ relationship between two countries

ISLAMABAD: The British High Commissioner-designate to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, arrived in Islamabad on Sunday afternoon to take up her new assignment as the European country’s new envoy to the South Asian country.

Marriott was appointed as the successor to the previous UK High Commissioner to Pakistan, Dr. Christian Turner, after he was transferred to another diplomatic service appointment.

Marriott has previously posted as the British high commissioner to Kenya from September 2019 to June 2023, and has also served as the British ambassador to Yemen. She has also been posted to the USA, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and has also headed the UK’s Joint International Counter Terrorism Unit, the UK government website said.

“Jane arrives at an important time for UK-Pakistan relations, with a significant uplift in UK aid spend in Pakistan focused on strengthening climate resilience and reducing humanitarian risks,” the UK government website said.

Last month, the UK also launched the new Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which will help Pakistan to boost exports by reducing tariffs and simplifying trade terms.

“I am delighted to be here in Pakistan, a country that deeply matters to, and has a long-standing relationship with, the UK,” Marriott said in a statement. “With over 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage in the UK making up every part of British society, we have a special and ever-growing bond.”

Marriott said that with the growing threat that climate change posts to health and livelihoods across the globe, she has a “particular interest” in ensuring the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and the UK is “a green, sustainable one.”


Pakistan rejects Amnesty claims of Israeli spyware use, calls reports ‘disinformation’

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Pakistan rejects Amnesty claims of Israeli spyware use, calls reports ‘disinformation’

  • FO denies any link with Israel, says Pakistan has “absolutely no cooperation” on surveillance tools
  • Islamabad accuses India of delaying clearance for relief aircraft bound for flood-hit Sri Lanka

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday rejected an Amnesty International report alleging the use of Israeli-made invasive spyware in the country, calling the findings speculative and misleading.

Amnesty’s investigation, published Thursday under the title Intellexa Leaks, cited the case of a Pakistan-based human rights lawyer who reported receiving a suspicious WhatsApp link in 2025. According to Amnesty International’s Security Lab, the link bore signatures consistent with Predator, a spyware product developed by Israeli manufacturer c

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi dismissed the suggestion that Islamabad had deployed the tool or maintained any technological cooperation with Israel.

“These are all media speculations. These are all rumor-mongering and disinformation. There is absolutely no cooperation between Pakistan and Israel on anything, let alone a spyware or these kinds of tools. So, I would reject it quite emphatically,” he said at a weekly briefing.

Andrabi also accused India of obstructing humanitarian operations, saying New Delhi delayed flight clearance for a Pakistani relief aircraft carrying aid to flood-affected Sri Lanka.

“The special aircraft carrying Pakistan’s relief goods had to wait for 48 hours, in fact more than 48 hours, around 60 hours, while the flight clearance from India was delayed,” he said.

He added that the eventual conditional flight window was too narrow to be workable.

“The partial flight clearance which eventually was given after 48 hours was operationally impractical, time-bound just for a few hours and hence not operable, severely hindering the urgent need for the relief mission for the brotherly people of Sri Lanka,” Andrabi stated.

“Humanitarian assistance is like justice, if it is delayed, it is denied.”

Responding to India’s claim that clearance was granted within four hours, he said Pakistan has documentary proof contradicting New Delhi’s version.

On a separate question about reported delays in the arrival of a Turkish delegation aimed at mediating between Islamabad and Kabul, Andrabi said Pakistan welcomed Ankara’s initiative but was unaware of the cause of postponement.

“We stand ready to receive the Turkish delegation. That delegation has not arrived as yet. And I’m not aware of any schedule. Pakistan is ready to hold negotiations, discussions,” he said, adding that the delay may be linked to coordination with the Afghan side.