Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s ongoing visit to the UK is also the first major diplomatic assignment for Pakistan’s newly appointed High Commissioner in London, Tipu Usman.

Dar arrived in London on Sunday for his five day official visit, with High Commissioner Usman receiving him at Heathrow Airport. The visit, which runs from August 24-28, comes at a time when Islamabad and London are seeking to maintain momentum in bilateral ties.

For Ambassador Usman, the assignment is a move from the protocol corridors of Islamabad to one of Pakistan’s most important diplomatic missions abroad. He took charge as High Commissioner in July after serving as Chief of State Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position that put him at the centre of high level foreign visits and interactions with the diplomatic community.

A career diplomat with more than two decades of experience, Ambassador Usman also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Riyadh and spent nearly six years at Pakistan’s UN mission in New York, where his work included security and counterterrorism matters. Earlier postings took him to Ankara and Vancouver. Before joining the Foreign Service, he served in the Pakistan Army’s Armoured Corps.

His London posting carries particular significance given the size and influence of the Pakistani community in Britain. Islamabad has already stressed that improving consular services and welfare support for overseas Pakistanis should remain a priority for the High Commission.

During Dar’s visit, meetings are planned with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, FCDO Minister Stephen Doughty and other British officials. He is also due to meet the Commonwealth Secretary General and the head of the International Maritime Organisation over Pakistani crew members held by Somali pirates. Engagements with British parliamentarians and the Pakistani diaspora are also on the agenda.

The visit offers an early test for Usman in his new diplomatic role, as he balances high level Pakistan-UK engagement with the concerns of the large Pakistani community in Britain.