By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan has welcomed the appointment of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as a special US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Former US ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke will be having responsibility of looking after all diplomatic and political efforts for winning the US-led war against “terror” in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“Pakistan welcomes the appointment of Ambassador Holbrooke and look forward to enhanced and fruitful engagement with the Special Envoy to further the cause of peace and stability of the region,” the Foreign Office spokesman said on Friday.
Spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday to inform him about the appointment of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as the Special Representative to coordinate US government’s efforts in our region.
The United States had appointed a similar envoy for the two countries during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s and the envoy played a key role in facilitating the resistance against the Soviets.
The US administration abolished the post after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan but the Obama team indicated during the election campaign that if elected, Mr Obama would appoint a special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The envoy will also work closely with Pakistan to help it fight the militants hiding in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
Mr Holbrooke was an adviser to the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton and was considered a candidate for secretary of state in the new administration but the post ultimately fell to Senator Clinton herself.
The appointment of such a powerful diplomat as special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan underscores the importance the Obama administration gives to the region, observers say.