The position requires Senate confirmation
United States President Joe Biden plans to nominate Donald Armin Blome as his new ambassador in Pakistan as the US seeks to manage the situation in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American troops.
The American president will announce his plan to appoint Blome as ‘Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan’ on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the White House.
Donald Blome’s nomination follows the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan earlier this year, followed by an unexpected collapse of the US-backed government in Kabul in August. The chaotic situation in Kabul after Taliban’s takeover forced Washington to move its diplomatic mission to Doha, Qatar.
Pakistan’s diplomatic role
Pakistan has always played a major role in diplomacy with Taliban. The recent Afghan situation has strengthened the diplomatic role of Pakistan in Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and US wants to take full advantage of it by using Pakistan’s influence in creating a comprehensive government in Kabul.
Pakistan does seem ready to soften the Taliban government on various political matters, using its influence but in return it wants US to send instant humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged country. Islamabad is also working to improve the economic relations between US and Afghanistan.
International agencies have warned that Afghanistan is on the verge of humanitarian collapse without access to aid or foreign reserves, which remain frozen in the United States.
America is also looking for aerial way in to Afghanistan via Pakistan.
About Donald Armin Blome:
Donald Blome is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and belongs to the class of minister-counselor. He is currently serving as the US ambassador to Tunisia.
Ambassador Blome earned a BA and a JD from the University of Michigan. He also speaks Arabic. Previous diplomatic and political positions of Blome include:
- Chargé d’affaires at the Libya External Office in Tunisia
- Consul general at the US Consulate in Jerusalem
- Director of the Office of Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the US Department of State
- Political counselor at the US Embassy in Kabul
- Minister-counselor for economic and political affairs at the US Embassy in Cairo
- Civilian co-director at the Multinational Force Strategic Engagement Cell, Baghdad
- Political counselor at the US Embassy Kuwait
- Israel desk officer
- Deputy Director and acting director at the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs.
The move will be finalized after Senate’s confirmation of the position.