Washington: In an effort to coordinate and streamline their efforts in the Af-Pak region, special representatives of 26 countries have come together to establish a secretariat in Washington.
The Obama administration was the first one to appoint Richard Holbrooke as Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan last year as President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton believe the two countries are linked to each other and terrorism in the region has to be fought with a joint policy.
Following Holbrook's appointment, more countries have now named their special representatives for Afghanistan and Pakistan and a need is being felt increasingly among them for better coordination and regular get-together.
"Germany, under the coordination of the German SRAP, Ambassador Bernd Muetzelburg, coordinates the international SRAP group, and we have developed a secretariat here in Washington which supports the German leadership and helps to do all the logistical work to increase this coordination," said Daniel F Feldman, Deputy to Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
SRAP stands for Special Representatives for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
At least 26 other countries and international organisations have appointed SRAP counterparts, Feldman told foreign correspondents.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 08, 2010, 15:32