Islamabad: The US State Department has appointed Elizabeth Kathryn Horst as the Acting US Ambassador to Pakistan.
Elizabeth Horst, a senior career diplomat currently serving as the principal deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, has arrived in Pakistan to take charge of her position.
“I am back in Pakistan (where I started my diplomatic career 20 years ago), this time for a short stint as the acting ambassador,” she wrote in a social media post.
“What a joy to visit one of the most magical places in Punjab, the Lahore Fort. I saw how US support is helping preserve this magnificent monument and demonstrate our long-term partnership. The people-to-people ties and cultural bonds are what underpin our work.”
Ms Horst’s appointment, though temporary, is seen as both strategic and symbolic.
Her arrival signals Washington’s continued interest in maintaining high-level engagement with Islamabad, even as the Biden administration calibrates its broader South Asia policy.
Elizabeth Horst took over new diplomatic responsibilities in the absence Natalie Baker, who is currently on leave.
Horst, a seasoned career diplomat, will serve in this acting capacity for a brief period. Her appointment comes at a time when US-Pakistan relations continue to navigate regional challenges and bilateral cooperation across security, trade, and climate issues.
