Reports: Crocker to leave Afghan ambassador post

U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker is planning to leave his post, which could come as early as this month, according to reports.

Reuters first reported Crocker’s departure Monday evening, which broke as the NATO summit on Afghanistan was concluding, and said it could happen as soon as this month.

An embassy spokesman in Afghanistan confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the ambassador was planning to step down.

Crocker came out of retirement to take the ambassador job in Afghanistan in 2011, and was also ambassador to Iraq from 2007 to 2009.

Crocker is planning to depart on the heels of the NATO summit in Chicago, where the U.S. and allies finalized a plan for handing off control of security to the Afghans by the end of 2014.

The U.S. also announced a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan earlier this month, which was finalized after several contentious issues were navigated, including the handling of detention facilities and night raids.

The United States still has plenty to negotiate with Afghanistan before that agreement, which would establish a U.S. presence in Afghanistan through 2024, goes into effect. A key issue to be resolved is the size of the U.S. force in the country.

After Crocker left Iraq, he became dean of Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service, before returning to the State Department.

---