James Dobbins appointed US Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan

May 04, 2013 01:52

James F Dobbins, a veteran US diplomat with a history of difficult assignments from Kosovo to Somalia, will be the new special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Announcing his appointment, US Secretary of State John Kerry said, "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 that he called the leaders of the two countries to inform them of his decision in this regard. Kerry called Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Army Chief, Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, according to a State Department spokesman.

This is a pivotal moment for both Afghanistan and Pakistan, with interconnected political, security, and economic transitions already underway in Afghanistan, and Pakistani elections just days away, marking an important and historic democratic transition, he said.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Jolt to MVA as Cong leader quits campaigning over no Muslim LS candidate

In a letter to Kharge, Khan said he will not campaign for party candidates for the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha polls and is also resigning from the state Congress campaign committee.

NIA chargesheets 14th accused in 2022 Coimbatore car bomb case

Naseer and his associates had conspired to wage war against the government of India and also to kill Indians in order to destabilise the country and create communal disharmony, it said.

India's Biggest Bow Arch String Girder

Glimpses of India's biggest Bowstring/Bow Arch Sting Girder installed by the Hindustan Construction Company on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link at 3.25 am, Friday, April 26, 2024.

IPL PIX: Punjab Kings beat KKR in record chase

IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings in Kolkata on Friday.

'Stats are going out of the window'

'Very pleasing. Most importantly the win, cricket has turned to baseball isn't it? We're delighted with the two points.'