New US Ambassador arrives in Pakistan
New US Ambassador-designate to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, arrived here today at a time when Islamabad is facing increasing pressure from Washington to go after Taliban and al-Qaeda operatives in their stronghold of North Waziristan.
Munter is scheduled to present his credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari on October 27.Munter arrived from Washington, where he recently participated in the third US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue meetings. A career diplomat, Munter completed a tour of duty at the American embassy in Baghdad in August.
He served in Baghdad first as Political-Military Minister-Counsellor in 2009 and then as Deputy Chief of Mission for the first half of 2010.
He also served as Ambassador in Belgrade during 2007-2009. Munter's wife Marilyn Wyatt, who has extensive experience working with non-profit organisations and communications, is a former US diplomat and she will be working with the US Agency for International Development in Pakistan.
Munter will replace Anne Patterson as the US envoy at a time when the American military is calling for the Pakistan Army to move into North Waziristan, where US drone attacks have significantly increased since September.
Pakistan has made it clear that a decision on launching an offensive in the tribal region will be decided on the basis of its capabilities and national interests.
