WASHINGTON:
In approximately a month’s time, US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter will step down from the position he has held for nearly two years.
His tenure has been marked by incidents that have deteriorated relations between Pakistan and the US: an increase in drone strikes, the Raymond Davis incident, the Osama bin Laden raid and the Salala incursion — resulting in a trust deficit between both countries.
The only name that has been floating in US media reports has been of Richard Olson, who was most recently posted in the US embassy in Kabul. As of earlier this month, Ambassador Olson was listed as the assistant ambassador at the US embassy in Afghanistan and the coordinating director for development and economic affairs.
His bio has been recently removed from the Kabul embassy’s website, and a replacement has been announced for the post he had held. A State Department spokesperson confirmed to The Express Tribune that Olson has left his post this month. According to his bio, he had previously served in Iraq, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Shamila Chaudhry, former White House national security council and director for Af-Pak, told The Express Tribune, that the new ambassador will have to balance two major needs: stabilising Pakistan-US relations, and support the US drawdown efforts in Afghanistan, which have suffered due to the closure of Nato supply routes in November of last year.
Chaudhry said that the next ambassador will face difficulties specifically in pursuing counterterrorism goals that help the US in Afghanistan, while also promoting public diplomacy, development and economic growth goals in Pakistan.
Wendy Chamberlin, a former US ambassador to Pakistan, told The Express Tribune that some of the key challenges that the new ambassador will face is not just to explain what America is thinking for the Pakistani people, but also explain Pakistan to Washington.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2012.
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Embrace Pakistan With Good American Spirt. Invest In Our Education, Pakistan Is Again Young And Dynamic. Show Genuine American Goodness. Bring Down Barriers In Front Of Your Consulates and Embassy. America Opening Up To Common Pakistanis Democracy Will Flourish And Will Create Space In The Heart And Minds. Hate Is Demeaning To Human Qualities. Lets Stop Hate In Its Step, Together. Welcome To Pakistan.
As long as he is confined to the embassy anyone will do
Repairing American-Pak relations is going to be an uphill task for any ambassador. A recent article in Foreign Policy magazine by Ms C. CHRISTINE FAIR summarizes it all.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/06/21/whattodoaboutpakistan?page=0,2
4 months before a US Presidential election? It's usually tough to get the best hands to commit to a posting during this period. Either Ambassador Olsen is very optimistic of an Obama victory or he is just a stand-in until they can get someone more qualified after the election results are out.