President Barack Obama has ordered establishment of a new temporary office which will support the American executive departments and agencies in strengthening the governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan and enhancing their capacity to resist extremists.
The office, to be known as the Pakistan and Afghanistan Support Office (PASO), will be established within the State Department. "The purpose of the PASO shall be to perform the specific project of supporting executive departments and agencies in strengthening the governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan, enhancing the capacity of those governments to resist extremists, and maintaining an effective US diplomatic presence in both countries," a White House Executive Order said.
The organisation will "support executive departments and agencies in efforts to enhance civilian control and stable constitutional government in Pakistan, to promote a more capable, accountable and effective government in Afghanistan that serves Afghan people and eventually can function, especially regarding internal security, with limited international support, and to stimulate an economy that will provide licit opportunity for the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan."
According to the Executive Order, the new organisation will assume the functions assigned to the Afghanistan Support Office (ASO). The PASO shall be headed by a Director appointed by the Secretary of State. The PASO shall be based in Washington, D.C., Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The Secretary shall transfer from the ASO to the PASO the personnel, assets, liabilities, and records of the ASO, the Order said.
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