Karachi: United States President Barack Obama has reportedly named a career diplomat, David Hale, as ambassador to Pakistan. Hale is yet to be approved by the senate before he assumes office in Islamabad, reported the Dawn.
He will replace Richard Olson, who had served as the U.S. ambassador in Islamabad since September 2012. Hale has currently been the US ambassador to Lebanon since Aug. 1, 2013.
He had previously held the position of the Special US Envoy for Middle East Peace between 2011 and 2013 and the deputy envoy from 2009-11. He also served as the US ambassador to Jordan from 2005 to 2008, after multiple tours in Jordan and Lebanon and service in Tunisia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and at the U.S. Mission to the UN.
Hale also was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israel, Egypt and the Levant and Director for Israel-Palestinian Affairs in Washington. He received the Distinguished Service Award from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2013. He has also been decorated with several Department Superior and Meritorious Honor awards. The news came as the U.S. vowed to step-up security and intelligence cooperation with Pakistan in an attempt to combat Islamist militants. However, relations have often been strained.
