ISLAMABAD: The outgoing US administration’s nominee for ambassador to Pakistan, William Edward Bill Todd, will not be able to complete the necessary repatriation for a hearing soon, including Congress, and it is likely that the US ambassador to Islamabad will be the second ambassador. Will be left without. Of this year
Until now, William Todd has served as Under Secretary of Management in Washington. Leading diplomatic sources told News here on Monday that William Edwards’ appointment could be annulled as the new administration would like to have an ambassador of its choice in Islamabad. Interestingly, Pakistan has been without a full ambassador since August 2018, when Ambassador David Hale was transferred and posted as Under Secretary for Political Affairs in Washington.
Immediately after the departure of Ambassador Paul Jones David Hale, Pakistan became the in-charge of the US Embassy in Pakistan. He left Pakistan after completing almost two years in Islamabad. Since then, Angela Eagler has been in charge of Difference in Islamabad.
Sources pointed out that William Edward Bill Todd was nominated as Ambassador-designate to Pakistan last year, but for unknown reasons his move could not be acted upon by the State Department.
With the change of administration in Washington, it is being speculated that the Biden administration would like to have an ambassador of its choice in Islamabad. Sources said that the possibility of a change in the nomination could not be ruled out as William Edwards would be replaced by some other senior diplomats for Pakistan. Diplomatic observers believe the United States has not appointed a full ambassador since Hale’s departure.
Analysts believe that despite bilateral engagements, Pakistan-US relations have not been on a positive path for a long time.
According to diplomatic principles and collective principle, the United States needed to send a full ambassador to Pakistan. However, he preferred to run the mission with Charge d’Affaires. This is the first time in decades that the United States has not appointed an ambassador to Pakistan. In contrast, Pakistan has always chosen to run its US mission with a fully-fledged ambassador, including the current Dr. Asad Majeed Khan, who has been hinted to be the new Foreign Secretary by the middle of this year.
China is clearly not happy with the US over Pakistan’s close ties with the latter. Similarly, Afghanistan is another issue that seeks to divide the two sides.
Hale served as US Ambassador to Pakistan from August 5, 2015 to August 30, 2018. He was the last US diplomat and career foreign service officer to remain ambassador to Islamabad with full authority. He is currently serving as Secretary of State in Washington.
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