US Ambassador Blome starts farewell activities ahead of his departure next month

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome has announced his intention to depart from Pakistan inJanuary 2025, and his transition, according to the US government, comes as part of the normal US Foreign Service rotation process.

Ambassador Blome leaves as the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump gets ready to move into the White House. On his departure, Deputy Chief of Mission Natalie Baker will assume the duties of chargé d’affaires.

Ambassador Blome, a career diplomat and the 31st US ambassador to Pakistan, has started his farewell activities in Islamabad. He took charge in May 2022 and became the first full-time ambassador to Pakistan after a gap of three years. The position had been vacant since August 2018.

Nominated by President Joe Biden, Ambassador Blome came to Islamabad following the withdrawal of American troops in Afghanistan. He had served as a political counsellor at the US Embassy in Kabul in 2012-2013.

“The ambassador is immensely grateful for the warmth and hospitality he has experienced in every corner of Pakistan throughout his tenure and will have more to say about his deep appreciation, the highlights of his time in Pakistan, and his hope for Pakistan’s future in the days and weeks ahead,” a US Embassy spokesperson told The News, confirming the comping departure of the ambassador.

Ambassador Blome came to Pakistan in very challenging times when PTI leader Imran Khan had accused the US of a “regime change”.

In September 2022, in an interview with The News, the ambassador had commented, “We want to see an independent, prosperous and strong Pakistan. That’s what we believe is in our interest and in the interest of the region.”

When asked specifically about the “regime change” allegations, he had responded, “The United States has spoken to the Pakistan government here and in Washington. I am hopeful that we can get past this regime change accusations and get back into important work that we have to do, to work together on some issues right now facing the world and our two countries.”

The US Embassy spokesperson, commenting on the time that Ambassador Blome had spent in Pakistan these past few years, said, “Under Ambassador Blome’s leadership, the US-Pakistan relationship entered a new chapter focused on shared goals and challenges – partnering with Pakistan to promote economic growth and deepen the connections between the Pakistani and American people.”

Some of the issues that the ambassador focused upon were strategic investments in affordable energy, clean water, and smart agriculture.

“He made economic reform and strengthening the US-Pakistan trade and investment relationship top priorities. And he worked tirelessly to expand access to quality health care and education, combat Pakistan’s severe, acute malnutrition crisis, and bring the best of American technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship to Pakistan to create jobs and uplift the Pakistani people,” added the spokesperson.