Reagan Names Oakley as Pakistan Envoy
Moving with unusual speed, President Reagan announced Thursday he will nominate veteran diplomat Robert B. Oakley to replace Arnold L. Raphel, the ambassador to Pakistan who was killed in the airplane crash that also claimed the life of Pakistan’s President Zia ul-Haq.
Oakley, 57, is currently the senior director of Middle East, South Asia and North Africa affairs for the National Security Council. He will be a member of the U.S. delegation headed by Secretary of State George P. Shultz that will attend Zia’s funeral Saturday.
Oakley’s nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Before joining the NSC staff, Oakley was a resident fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. From 1984 to 1986 he served as director of the State Department’s Office for Combatting Terrorism. He has also served as ambassador to Somalia and Zaire as w1701604384for Asia and the Pacific.
Oakley is married to State Department spokeswoman Phyllis Oakley.
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