Trump Appoints Natalie Baker, Who Visited PoK Despite India's Objection, Pakistan Ambassador

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has appointed Natalie Baker as ambassador to Pakistan. Baker is the same diplomat who visited Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) last month, drawing a strong response from India. Baker was the acting US ambassador to Pakistan and has significantly assisted Donald Trump in implementing Pakistan policy.

Baker, a native of Texas, has worked in Qatar, North Africa, and the Middle East. She has led the US mission in Islamabad since the departure of former Ambassador Donald Blom in January 2025. The White House submitted the nomination to the Senate on November 9 (Macabik local time), where it will now be reviewed by the Foreign Relations Committee and then voted on by the Senate.

Visited Gilgit Baltistan

Pakistani experts believe this move is a positive sign toward strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries on trade, security, and regional issues. According to a report last month by the Associated Press of Pakistan, during his visit to Gilgit-Baltistan in PoK, several issues of mutual interest were discussed. Gilgit-Baltistan is part of Indian Jammu and Kashmir, which is occupied by Pakistan.

Improved Pakistan-US relations

Before coming to Islamabad, Baker served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Doha, Qatar, from August 2021 to July 2024. Prior to that, she was Director of the Office of North African Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

Her previous positions include Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d'Affaires at the U.S. Mission in Libya, Deputy Director of the Iran Regional Presence Office at the U.S. Consulate in Dubai, and Economic Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. Baker served as a political and economic advisor during the normalization of bilateral relations with Libya from 2009 to 2011. She remained there until the embassy was evacuated due to the 2011 Libyan revolution.