Pajhwok07/18/2012By Lalit K Jha [Printer Friendly Version] WASHINGTON - United States President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated James B. Cunningham as the new ambassador to Afghanistan. The veteran Cunningham is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and currently the deputy US ambassador to Afghanistan. Obama also announced Richard G Olson as the new US ambassador to Pakistan. Both need to be confirmed by the US Senate before they can be sworn in for their new ambassadorial postings. “I am grateful that these talented and dedicated men and women have agreed to take on these important roles and devote their talents to serving the American people. “I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years,” Obama said in a statement, as he announced more than a dozen key administration posts, including the two diplomatic positions. Prior to his post in Kabul, Cunningham served as the Consul General in Hong Kong from 2005 to 2008 and was ambassador to Israel from 2008 to 2011. Previous assignments include: Ambassador and Deputy US Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1999-2004), Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Rome (1996-1999), Director of the State Department's Office of European Security and Political Affairs (1993-1995) and Chief of Staff to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General (1989-1990). Earlier assignments include posts with the US Mission to NATO, as well as postings at US embassies in Rome and Stockholm.
