New US Special Envoy to visit Pakistan, Afghanistan; reaffirm commitment to ties

WASHINGTON: Marc Grossman, the Obama Administration's new special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, embarks on a visit during which he will meet the two Asian countries' leaders and reaffirm the US commitment to enduring partnerships with them, the State Department said.

Ambassador Grossman departs Monday for travel to London, Jeddah, Kabul, Islamabad and Brussels.

During this trip Ambassador Grossman will attend the International Contact Group (ICG) meeting in Jeddah and meet with key partners and allies to continue ongoing consultations.

"In Kabul and Islamabad Ambassador Grossman will meet with senior government officials and representatives from civil society and local media.

In his meeting, Ambassador Grossman will emphasize the US commitment to long-term, enduring partnerships with both Afghanistan and Pakistan."

He will continue the ongoing dialogues begun by Ambassador Holbrooke and reaffirm the message Secretary Clinton made in her February 18 speech to the Asia Society, the State Department added.

The first ICG meeting of 2011 will be in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on March 3, hosted by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Chaired by German SRAP Ambassador Michael Steiner, the ICG includes representatives from nearly 50 countries and international organizations.

"By hosting the meeting, the OIC will highlight the essential contributions to Afghanistan and Pakistan from Muslim-majority countries more than a third of the participants of the ICG are from OIC member states."

Afghanistan's delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Rassoul and will include Chairman of the High Peace Council Professor Rabbani. The Government of Pakistan's delegation will be led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.  Ambassador Grossman will also travel to London to meet with his SRAP counterpart Ambassador Karen Pierce and attend other key meetings.

Grossman's visit will conclude with a stop in Brussels, to continue close ongoing consultations with NATO leadership.