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US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West moves to different role
US commitment to Afghanistan will be led within the State Department by Chief of Mission of the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan Karen Decker, Special Envoy Rina Amiri, and Ambassador John Mark Pommersheim
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed late Tuesday that Thomas West has been moved from his role as Special Representative for Afghanistan and appointed Acting Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the department.
West was appointed in October 2021 as special envoy for Afghanistan and has with US allies and partners to help lead a humanitarian effort that “prevented a wider famine and met the urgent needs of millions of Afghans,” Blinken said.
“Tom prioritized advocacy for the release of detained American citizens, as well as the continued relocation of Afghans to whom we owe a special debt,” the statement read.
No one has been appoint to take over from West, however Blinken said: “The US commitment to Afghanistan remains an enduring priority and will be led within the State Department by Chief of Mission of the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan Karen Decker, Special Envoy Amiri, and Ambassador John Mark Pommersheim.”
According to him, Decker will lead diplomacy on Afghanistan from Doha, while Amiri will continue to lead diplomatic and policy efforts toward ensuring that human rights, and women’s rights, are prioritized.
In Washington, Pommersheim, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central Asia, will lead policy development and inter-agency coordination on Afghanistan.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has announced that it will continue providing its essential health services to the people of Afghanistan.
In a post on X, the organization, referring to Afghanistan’s health needs, said that over the past year it has been active in various health sectors across the country, ranging from maternal and child care to emergency response, as well as the treatment of patients suffering from tuberculosis and severe injuries.
According to MSF, its teams over the past year have been present at a range of health facilities, including neonatal intensive care units, operating theatres, surgical centers, and specialized tuberculosis treatment wards, where they have delivered life-saving services to patients.
The organization stressed that it will continue ensuring the provision of health services, particularly for needy families and vulnerable communities in remote areas of Afghanistan.
The Embassy of Afghanistan in Japan, currently run by diplomats of the previous government, has announced that it will suspend its operations in Tokyo after the end of January 2026.
In a statement issued on Friday, the embassy said the decision was made after consultations with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close coordination with Japanese authorities, and in accordance with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The embassy added that after January 31, all of its political, economic, cultural, and consular activities will be halted until further notice.
Currently, Shaida Abdali is serving as Afghanistan’s ambassador to Japan.
Sadin Ayyıldız, Chargé d’Affaires of the Turkish Embassy in Kabul, held a courtesy meeting with Zakir Jalali, the Second Political Deputy of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of the start of his mission.
The Turkish Embassy in Kabul said in a post that the meeting included mutual exchanges of views on bilateral relations.
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