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Saturday, November 09, 2013
Jilani named as new US ambassadorISLAMABAD: Pakistan appointed a new ambassador to the United States on Friday, at a time of tense relations between the two countries over drone strikes in the country’s tribal belt. Senior diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani – 58 and most recently foreign secretary – has been named to the role, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, filling a position that has been vacant for several months. “He is a career diplomat and prior to his current appointment, he served as ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union,” the statement said. His appointment comes with relations between the United States and Pakistan at a new low. Last week Pakistan reacted angrily to a drone attack that killed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud in the North Waziristan tribal area. The government said it destroyed efforts to begin talks to end the TTP’s bloody six-year insurgency that has left thousands of soldiers, police and civilians dead. Jilani’s appointment comes after Sherry Rehman stepped down in May following Nawaz Sharif’s victory at the general election. Rehman took up the role in 2011 after her predecessor Husain Haqqani was forced to resign following claims he was behind a memo asking the then chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff to help prevent a military coup after the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Ambassador Jilani will formally begin his new assignment in December. afp
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk