Former US ambassador says Washington could eventually reopen embassy in Kabul

The United States could eventually reopen its embassy in Kabul, but any renewed relationship with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan should be built gradually and based on concrete actions, former US ambassador Ronald E. Neumann has said.

Speaking to i24NEWS, Neumann said he could envisage Washington restoring a diplomatic presence in Kabul, although he could not predict when.

“There are reasons to reopen,” Neumann said, while stressing that the Islamic Emirate would first need to make policy changes, particularly regarding its treatment of women.

His comments follow an appeal by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi for the United States to reopen its embassy, restore diplomatic ties and invest in Afghanistan. Muttaqi has proposed US investment in minerals, dams and roads while ruling out any return of American troops.

Neumann said Washington and the Islamic Emirate are already engaging pragmatically in limited areas, including discussions over Americans detained in Afghanistan and counterterrorism.

However, he expressed serious concerns about restrictions on women and girls and the Islamic Emirate’s relationships with militant groups, including Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Despite those concerns, Neumann warned that completely disengaging from Afghanistan could create risks for the United States and the wider region.

He said Afghanistan’s mineral resources could potentially attract US investment, but major projects would require greater security, rule of law and investor confidence.

Neumann also reflected on the collapse of the former Afghan government, saying it resulted from a combination of political, institutional and strategic failures. He argued that Afghan leaders failed to build a state that enough people believed was worth defending, while US policy created excessive reliance on American protection and aid.

On future engagement, Neumann urged Washington to exchange concrete actions rather than promises.

“You should only trade real actions for real actions,” he said, arguing that any normalization should proceed “step by step” because there is little trust between the two sides.

He warned that reopening an embassy without securing meaningful commitments could weaken Washington’s negotiating position.

“Not by promises, not by hopes that things will be better,” Neumann said. “That has to be step by step.”