President Trump’s nominee to run the State Department’s South Asia policy has withdrawn from consideration for the job, according to a senior administration official.
Regional experts said it left another key diplomatic vacancy unfilled at a critical time for regional stability and at a moment the United States continues peace talks with the Taliban.
Robert Williams, who has 20 years’ experience specializing in South Asia and Afghanistan affairs as an analyst and intelligence officer, is said to have withdrawn for what was described as “family reasons.”
He is currently associate deputy director for intelligence and directorate for operations at the Defense Intelligence Agency.
His online biography hints at a long career at the heart of the U.S. national security world. Details posted on LinkedIn reveal he held the post of senior duty officer in the White House situation room on 9/11.
The U.S. has not had an ambassador in Pakistan since Trump took office, and recent reports suggest the State Department is planning to halve the number of diplomatic posts at the embassy in Kabul.
Michael Kugelman, senior associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center, said the gaps were alarming.
“The US is looking at some very critical challenges in South Asia right now — negotiations with the Taliban, a tense situation with Pakistan and India. I’d argue there’s never been a more critical time to have senior South Asia positions filled,” he said. “The fact you have so many vacancies in the U.S. government on this portfolio is very troubling.”
The post will remain vacant at a time of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India over the disputed territory of Kashmir and as the Afghan government prepares to send a delegation to Qatar to meet Taliban officials.
It follows the most recent round of U.S.-Taliban talks last month. American officials believe they are close to securing a Taliban pledge to halt terrorist attacks.
