Anne Patterson Nominated as US Ambassador to Pakistan
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service

WASHINGTON: President George Bush has nominated Anne W Patterson, a career diplomat, to be the United States' ambassador to Pakistan, the White House said Tuesday.

The experienced diplomat has previously served as Deputy Permanent Representative at the United States Mission to the United Nations and as America's Ambassador to Colombia.

Currently, Patterson serves as Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the Department of State.

She would replace Ryan Crocker as US envoy to Pakistan, who has taken up his new assignment as America's ambassador in Iraq. The nomination is to be confirmed by the US Senate.

Pakistan is a key ally of the United States in the ongoing fight against terrorism and the two countries are working to expand and deepen their relationship in wide-ranging areas under strategic partnership, affirmed by President Bush and President Pervez Musharraf in March 2006.●