Pakistan's tough talking journalist-turned-diplomat, Maleeha Lodhi, has been appointed high commissioner to Britain.

Lodhi, who was twice appointed envoy to the United States, will succeed Abdul Kadir Jaffar, media reports said on Monday.

She will take up the assignment in early June shortly before President Pervez Musharraf's visit to London and Washington, the reports said.

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

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