'Pakistan expert' US diplomat under federal investigation: report

Robin was the wife of former US ambassador Arnold Raphel who was killed aboard a plane carrying Ziaul Haq in 1988


Web Desk/APP November 07, 2014

WASHINGTON: Ambassador Robin Raphel, a veteran American diplomat and long-time Pakistan expert, is under federal investigation as part of a counter-intelligence probe, The Washington Post reported Thursday evening.          

Robin is the former wife of US ambassador Arnold Raphel who was killed aboard a plane carrying Ziaul Haq in 1988.

According to the newspaper, the FBI searched the Northwest Washington home of Robin last month, and her State Department office was also examined and sealed.

The report said the exact nature of the investigation involving Robin remains unclear. She has not been charged.

It is also unclear whether the inquiry is related to her work on Pakistan.

Robin has been a longtime South Asian expert and also worked as State Department adviser on civilian assistance for Pakistan.

She was placed on administrative leave last month and her contract with the State Department was allowed to expire this week, the Post reported.

A spokesperson for Robin said she was cooperating with investigators but has not been told the scope or nature or that she is the target of any probe.

"We are aware of this law enforcement matter," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said. The State Department has been cooperating with our law enforcement colleagues, she added, according to the newspaper.

COMMENTS (5)

hellboy | 10 years ago | Reply

@Blithe: Indians don't care what about world about Kashmir as long as they are with us.We do't Kashmir is a disputed or whatever,it is the place of Kashypa rishi,the sourse and eternal sunshine of Indian civilization for time immemorial.A bunch of religious terrorist can't change the fact that Kashmir was/is/will for ever and ever is for melting point Indian civilization .Btw Pakistan is from desert land they don't belong to this civilization with there imported culture and religion.

Raj - USA | 10 years ago | Reply

In India, she was called "Hit and run diplomat". She would make unsubstantiated accusations on India and would not take calls from Indian officials when they wanted to answer of clarify. It was during the time Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India. She would say good things about India in India and then go to Pakistan and say very bad things, totally opposite, on India. US Senators, Congressmen and even low ranking US embassy officials had unhindered access to the offices of all top politicians both in the government and the opposition, MP's, MLA's, and government officials and could meet them any time, as and when they demanded, even on a very short notice. Later, Vajpayee and Jaswant Singh banned all such meetings and US found it very hard to reach any Indian politician or bureaucrat or government official. US then curtailed Robin Raphel's functions drastically and also reduced her prominence and visibility.

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