Political India: Engaging America

From The Hindu

Richard Holbrooke, United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, remained in a critical condition on Sunday evening, the State Department said.

Mr. Holbrooke was admitted to George Washington University Hospital after collapsing during an official function on Friday. Earlier during the weekend State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said that doctors had completed surgery to repair a tear in Mr. Holbrooke’s aorta.

President Barack Obama expressed concern for Mr. Holbrooke too, saying in a statement that he had spoken to Mr. Holbrooke’s wife Kati Marton and told her that he and the First Lady were praying for Mr. Holbrooke.

Mr. Obama said, “Richard Holbrooke is a towering figure in American foreign policy, a critical member of my Afghanistan and Pakistan team, and a tireless public servant who has won the admiration of the American people and people around the world.”

He added that senior officials in his administration, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, had visited Mr. Holbrooke at the hospital.

On Sunday Mr. Holbrooke was said to have undergone an additional procedure to improve his circulation following the first surgical procedure.

In addition to Mr. Obama Ms. Marton received calls from Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari.

Labels: critical, Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan