23rd February 2012 Islamabad, Pakistan
Introduction – Jasper Thornton
I began my career as a journalist on Egypt’s Al-Ahram Weekly newspaper, spending two years living on a house-boat in the heart of Cairo and reporting on the Middle East. In 2002 I joined the UK civil service. Before the Foreign Office, I was a Senior Policy Advisor in the Cabinet Office, covering Russia, Georgia and Ukraine; the Balkans; Energy; and European Defence and Security. In 2006, I joined the Foreign Office Russia Team, then became head of the Georgia Political Team during the Georgia-Russia War. My previous posting was New Delhi. I’ve lived in Pakistan now for a year, and I am constantly amazed by the resilience, generosity and courage I encounter here. I want to use this blog to talk about that Pakistan, which I see every day, but which rarely finds its way into the international news headlines.
Jasper Thornton is currently working in the Political Team at the British High Commission in Islamabad.