Anglo-Pakistan relations, cool to the point of freezing since President Yahya Khan’s troops went into action last March, are in for a thaw. If, as is expected. Lieutenant-General Muhammad Yousuf is confirmed as the new Pakistan High Commissioner in London (succeeding Salman Ali).

Yousuf was High Commissioner in London between 1959 and 1962. He was popular then, maintaining an almost open house at his residence in St John’s Wood, and still has a wide circle of friends here. More important, he is politically astute—a necessary qualification in the present context and is likely to be more outspoken than Ali in dealing with press and politicians.

West Pakistanis in Britain believe there has already been a shift of emphasis by Britain in Pakistan's favour. They welcome the more conciliatory tones on the Foreign Secretary's statements at the House of Commons last Monday and feel that yesterday’s “friendship treaty” between India and the Soviet Union will make Britain appreciate the importance of its relations with Islamabad.