US officially nominates Richard Olson as Pakistan ambassador
Olson had orchestrated US development and economic activities in Afghanistan since June 2011.
WASHINGTON:
Ending weeks of speculation and rumours, the White House has officially announced that they are nominating Richard G. Olson as the next US ambassador to Pakistan.
The announcement comes as Cameron Munter steps down from his current post as Ambassador to Pakistan. According to a biography released by the White House, Ambassador Olson previously served as the Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Kabul from June 2011 to June 2012. Prior to this, he was the US Ambassador in UAE from 2008 to 2011. Ambassador Olson, a career foreign service officer, has also been posted in Saudi Arabia, Brussels and Iraq.
The Obama Administration also announced that they are nominating James B. Cunningham as next US ambassador to Afghanistan. Earlier, Reuters had reported that current US Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker was stepping down from his post due to health reasons. Ambassador Cunningham last served as US Ambassador to Israel from 2008-2011. It is expected that both nominations will be sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before they are approved.
Ending weeks of speculation and rumours, the White House has officially announced that they are nominating Richard G. Olson as the next US ambassador to Pakistan.
The announcement comes as Cameron Munter steps down from his current post as Ambassador to Pakistan. According to a biography released by the White House, Ambassador Olson previously served as the Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Kabul from June 2011 to June 2012. Prior to this, he was the US Ambassador in UAE from 2008 to 2011. Ambassador Olson, a career foreign service officer, has also been posted in Saudi Arabia, Brussels and Iraq.
The Obama Administration also announced that they are nominating James B. Cunningham as next US ambassador to Afghanistan. Earlier, Reuters had reported that current US Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker was stepping down from his post due to health reasons. Ambassador Cunningham last served as US Ambassador to Israel from 2008-2011. It is expected that both nominations will be sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before they are approved.