Af-Pak envoy Holbrooke remains critical

Richard Holbrooke, the special United States envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, remained in critical condition on Monday following a surgery to repair a torn aorta at the George Washington Hospital in Washington.

Holbrooke, 69, was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on Friday after he fell ill at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. Obama's point man for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Holbrooke underwent a surgery on Saturday to repair a tear in his aorta. He underwent an additional surgery on Monday.

"Today, Ambassador Holbrooke underwent an additional procedure to improve circulation following yesterday's surgery," State Department spokesman P J Crowley said, adding that Holbrooke remains in critical condition, and is surrounded by his family, friends, colleagues and staff.

Holbrooke's family continued to receive calls from a number of world leaders including Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

"Today Ambassador Holbrooke's wife Kati Marton received calls from President Karzai and President Zardari; Secretary (of State Hillary) Clinton also spoke with President Karzai," Crowley said.

"His family is grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers coming in from his many friends, colleagues and leaders around the world," he said.

United Stated President Barack Obama, on Saturday said that he is a 'towering personality' of American diplomacy.

"Richard Holbrooke is a towering figure in American foreign policy, a critical member of my Afghanistan and Pakistan team, and a tireless public servant who has won the admiration of the American people and people around the world," Obama had said.

Obama had appointed Holbrooke as his special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan soon after he entered the White House in January 2009. Since then, Holbrooke has been instrumental in shaping the Af-Pak policy of the administration.

He has not only made innumerable trips to the region, but also to key countries across the globe with the core objective of defeating the Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, and bring lasting peace in the Af-Pak region.

White House's annual review of its Af-Pak policy is due later this week. Officials said his illness is unlikely to have any impact as the review was almost over when Holbrooke fell ill.