NEW YORK, Dec 11: Richard Boucher, former US State Department spokesman, is tipped to become the next US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, replacing Christina Rocca, highly-informed sources at the State Department told Dawn on Sunday.

Mr Boucher will head the newly expanded bureau of South Asia which will now include Central Asia also. An additional 26 officials have been added to the bureau to strengthen it.

An announcement to the effect would be made by the State Department shortly.

Ms Rocca reportedly was offered a post of US Ambassador but sources say she is not too keen to accept it. Instead she is exploring the option to either stay in Washington or join the private sector.

Qudssia adds: There are strong indications that US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Bureau, Ms Christina Rocca, would be replaced by former US State Department Spokesperson Richard Boucher within a couple of months.

US embassy spokesperson Ms Nida Emmons when asked if such a change was in the offing said: “I’ll have to check on that information.”