‘Tough talking’ Munter nominated new US ambassador to Pakistan

LAHORE - US President Barack Obama has announced the nomination of Dr Cameron Munter, who was earlier posted in Baghdad as the political-military adviser to the US ambassador, as their new envoy to Pakistan.

While the current US ambassador to Pakistan- Anne W Peterson- would be quitting office in October, Munter’s final appointment would be made after the approval of the US Senate, the Daily Times reports.

The 56-year-old diplomat has a rich experience of working in countries in transition, including his assignments in Prague, Belgrade and Warsaw. He also led the provincial reconstruction team in Mosul (Iraq) in 2006. In his most recent posting, as a military adviser to the US ambassador in Iraq, he directed strategic planning and US civil-military coordination.

Munter, who has an experience of working in NATO as well, is known for making strong statements. During his stint in Belgrade as the ambassador, when the US embassy was attacked, he sent out a clear message to the Serbian government by saying, “It had better not happen again.”

His appointment in Pakistan is seen as an indication of US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke’s grip on the US policy governing the two counties, as Munter had past associations with Holbrooke during his postings in Europe in the mid-nineties, when Holbrooke was the head of the Europe desk in the State Department. (ANI)