Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The U.S. has reassigned its special representative for Afghanistan, leaving a critical diplomatic post vacant amid ongoing efforts to engage with the Taliban-ruled country. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Tuesday that Tom West, the envoy since 2021, will assume a new role as the acting head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the State Department.
Blinken reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan, stating that it “remains an enduring priority” despite West’s reassignment. He praised West’s dedication, highlighting his efforts to ensure U.S. national interests and the Afghan people’s welfare guided Washington’s policy following the Taliban’s return to power.
Karen Decker, the U.S. Embassy chief in Doha, Qatar, will take over Afghan diplomacy, as Western governments, including the U.S., operate their Afghan missions from abroad. The Taliban’s strict enforcement of Islamic law, especially the ban on girls’ education and women’s participation in the workforce, continues to draw international condemnation.
Rina Amiri, the U.S. special envoy for Afghan women’s and girls’ rights, will continue her work to ensure human rights, with a focus on women’s rights, are central to U.S. engagement with Afghanistan.
While some critics argue Afghanistan has fallen on Washington’s foreign policy priority list due to other global crises, State Department officials maintain that the country remains a key focus of U.S. diplomacy.
The Taliban government’s lack of inclusivity, rigid stance on women’s rights, and economic isolation due to U.S. and allied sanctions remain major obstacles to its international recognition.
