Robin Raphel joins Hoolbrooke's team as Pak aid coordinator

Veteran diplomat Robin Raphel, who was the first Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia under Bill Clinton and served in India for some time, is joining Richard Holbrooke's team to become the coordinator for non-military aid to Pakistan.

Veteran diplomat Robin Raphel, who was the first Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia under Bill Clinton and served in India for some time, is joining Richard Holbrooke's team to become the coordinator for non-military aid to Pakistan.

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Working out of the US embassy in Islamabad, Raphel will be teaming up with USAID, the USDA, Treasury, Department of Defence, and other assistance-implementing agencies to ensure that all programs support America's goals in the region, Foreign Policy's website said quoting State Department officials.

Raphel started her career as a lecturer in history in Iran, worked for two years as a CIA economics analyst and then as a USAID analyst in Islamabad before going on to a 30-year career in the State Department, serving in Pakistan, London, South Africa, India, and later as US ambassador to Tunisia.

Since retiring from the State Department in 2000, Raphel has served as coordinator for Iraq reconstruction and the deputy inspector general for reconstruction of the war-torn country.