Rumors: Ludin eyeing ambassadorship in Washington

Kabul has summoned Eklil Hakimi, Afghan Ambassador to Washington, for alleged mismanagement and Jawed Ludin, Afghanistan’s deputy foreign minister, could replace him, unconfirmed reports suggest.

Jawed Ludin 

Mr. Hakimi is purportedly under fire for at least two scandals under his nose which leaked to the media and tarnished the embassy’s diplomatic reputation.

In February 2012, it was confirmed that Afghan diplomats exchanged punches inside the Afghanistan Embassy in Washington, DC while the ambassador watched.

In April, an exchange of incendiary emails between an Embassy’s trade attaché and the Finance Minister, Omar Zakhilwal, were purposely leaked.

Whilst Ambassador Hakimi kept himself off the Zakilwal- attaché emails scandal, Mr. Zakhilwal lodged a strong complaint in Kabul and demanded clarification from the foreign ministry.

Ludin, the highly-connected deputy foreign minister, has shown interest in the ambassadorship in Washington, sources say.

Mr. Ludin has been effectively managing the foreign ministry because Zalmay Rasoul, foreign minister, is largely ineffective.  Ludin led and hammered the Afghanistan-US Strategic Partnership Agreement and has cultivated profound ties with American diplomats and policy-makers, sources say.