Announcement of new US Ambassador to India soon: Nisha Desai Biswal

WASHINGTON: The Obama Administration has assured US lawmakers that it is working on to soon nominate a new Ambassador to India, an important diplomatic post lying vacant since May.

"It is going through its own internal process at the White House," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing.

"This is a big priority for the administration, for the President, and so we hope that we can conclude the internal process sometime soon and then it will be with the legislative branch for Senate confirmation," Biswal said.

"It was therefore a decision of the administration to place Ambassador Kathy Stephens there in charge. She is one who brings great skill and experience and expertise, and particularly her experience in East Asia as ambassador to Korea has been very welcome as well," Biswal said.

The post of top American diplomat in India is vacant since May when the then US Ambassador Nancy Powell left after an eventful stint. The White House is yet to announce a replacement for her.