LONDON: Pakistan’s senior diplomat Moazzam Ahmad Khan arrived in London on Monday and assumed the charge of the office of High Commissioner for Pakistan to the UK the same day replacing Mohammad Nafees Zakaria.
In a formal talk with the senior staff of the high commission, he said that his aims would be to boost Pakistan’s image and highlight the Kashmir issue apart from enhancing Pak-UK bilateral relations which are at the moment on a very satisfactory note.
Britain is an important hub for Pakistan and Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora with the active participation of British community can achieve the required goals. “We have to accept the challenge of availing the support for Kashmiri oppressed people here in Britain and rest of the world amicably”, he emphasised.
Masood Ahmed Khan has assumed his important responsibilities at a significant time when the British Parliament will witness fourth open debate on Kashmir on Thursday, September 24. Labour MP Debie Abrahams has initiated this discussion.
Mr Khan’s diplomatic career spans over three decades. Prior to his current assignment, he was serving as Special Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During his career in the Foreign Service of Pakistan, Mr Khan held various diplomatic assignments in Pakistan Missions abroad including Washington, Nairobi, The Hague and New Delhi. Besides, he served as Ambassador of Pakistan to The Netherlands and the UAE. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Khan served as Director General (Europe), Director General (Foreign Minister’s Office) and Spokesperson.
Before joining the Foreign Ministry as Special Secretary, Muazzam Khan was ambassador to the UAE and before that was on the same position in Netherlands. He enjoys a good reputation in the Pakistan Foreign Office and is known as a competent officer. He is a career diplomat, who joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1986 and has represented Pakistan in various capacities.
Before taking up the position of ambassador to the Netherlands, he was the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2012-2013. He also served as director-general (Foreign Minister’s Office) and director-general (Europe). He worked in the position of a minister at the Embassy of Pakistan, Washington DC. In addition to his numerous other assignments, he also served as a Counsellor at the High Commission of Pakistan in India from 2003-2006.
He holds a masters in International Relations and International Economics from Johns Hopkins University, School for Advance International Studies, USA. Muazzam Khan, 57, has three children and his wife, Leena Salim Muazzam, is also a career diplomat. She has served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Portugal.