President Asif Ali Zardari condoled the death of U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke, describing him as a friend of Pakistan and a personal friend of his slain wife Benazir Bhutto and himself, the president office said Tuesday. Richard Holbrooke, 69, died Monday following a second round of surgery to treat a torn aorta. "Pakistan has lost a friend. He was an accomplished and experienced diplomat who quickly gained the confidence of his interlocutors," said Zardari in a condolence message. "He was a key player in international diplomacy to bring peace to Bosnia and in confronting militancy in our part of the world," the president said.