Zee Media Bureau/Himanshu Kapoor
New Delhi: In the wake of Nancy Powell`s retirement, Kathleen Stephens has been named the new interim US Ambassador to India as President Barack Obama is yet to nominate a diplomat for this important post.
After an eventful stint in India, Powell`s is headed back to US and will be temporarily replaced by Stephens early next month until a permanent ambassador is confirmed by the US Senate . The outgoing US Ambasador to India took charge in April, 2012 and announced the end of her tenure in March this year.
Having previously served in several senior positions in Washington, Asia and Europe, Stephens was also the US envoy to South Korea from 2008 to 2011.
Powell was criticised for to dealing well with Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade affair and her failure to read the writing on the wall in reaching out to India`s PM designate Narendra Modi too late following his emergence as the national leader.
US, who revoked Modi`s visa in 2005 over his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots, is also now warming up to India`s PM elect and has send a fresh invitation to Modi to visit Washington. Obama called up Modi to congratulate him after his thumping victory in the recently concluded General Elections in India.
