US asks Patterson to stay on as envoy in Pak

Islamabad, July 25(ANI): The United States has decided to retain its Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson for an unspecific period.

Patterson, who has been in the post since May 2007, got an extension following Washington's decision to drop a proposal to replace her with US Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume.

According to reports, Patterson could stay on till 2013 - the deadline for 'secured position' indicated by Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani for 'major stakeholders' of the country.

The 61-year-old has also confirmed that she would stay in Pakistan for quite sometime, The News reports.

Patterson, who entered the Foreign Service in 1973, has served as a U.S. State Department Economic Officer and Counselor to Saudi Arabia from 1984 to 1988, and then as a Political Counselor at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva from 1988 to 1991.

She has also served as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador from 1997 to 2000, and then U.S. Ambassador to Colombia 2000 to 2003. (ANI)