WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday appointed James F Dobbins, a veteran US diplomat with a history of difficult assignments from Kosovo to Somalia, as the new special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“This is a pivotal moment for both Afghanistan and Pakistan, with interconnected political, security, and economic transitions already under way in Afghanistan, and Pakistani elections just days away, marking an important and historic democratic transition,” Kerry said in a statement in Washington.
“He has deep and longstanding relationships in the region and I couldn’t be more grateful that Jim has agreed to take on this assignment,” he said.
The post of special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan has been vacant since Marc Grossman stepped down in December.
Meanwhile‚ Pakistan has welcomed the appointment of new United States special representative James F Dobbins for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Foreign Office in a statement expressed the hope that with the appointment of new envoy peace will be strengthened in the region.
DND
