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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.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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