Outgoing US Ambassador meets army chief

RAWALPINDI: Outgoing US Ambassador in Pakistan, David Hale paid a farewell call on Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa yesterday (Aug 25).

Army Chief thanked him for his services in Pakistan and acknowledged his contributions towards Pak-US relations, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet.

The outgoing Ambassador thanked the COAS for contributions of Pakistan Army towards regional peace and stability.

Outgoing US Ambassador in Pakistan, Amb David Hale, paid a farewell call on COAS. Army Chief thanked Amb for his services in Pakistan and acknowledged his contributions towards Pak-US relations. Amb thanked COAS for contributions of Pak Army towards regional peace and stability.

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) August 24, 2018

The same day, Mr. Hale also met Prime Minister Imran Khan at the PM Office.

During the meeting, the US Ambassador and Prime Minister Imran Khan discussed matters of mutual interest.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also present.

US President Donald Trump has nominated Hale to be the next under secretary of state for political affairs. Mr Hale would replace Thomas A Shannon who retired on June 4.

Mr. Hale had been serving as the US Ambassador to Pakistan since 2015. Before that he was the ambassador to Lebanon and Jordan.

He has also served in Tunisia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Nations.

In Washington, Hale served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Israel, Egypt and the Levant; director for Israel-Palestinian Affairs and executive assistant to former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.