Washington, 9 November 2021 (TDI): The United States’ new special representative to Afghanistan, Thomas West, announced his diplomatic tour to Europe and Asia on Monday. The official will discuss Afghanistan’s crisis with the international stakeholders during the visit.
The Biden Administration appointed Tom West as the State Department’s special envoy to Afghanistan last month. The US State Secretary Antony J. Blinken also met with the representative yesterday to discuss his diplomatic mission and the prospects of Afghanistan’s situation.
Good to sit down with Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West @US4AfghanPeace ahead of his trip to discuss Afghanistan with international stakeholders. The first stop on his travel will be Brussels, where he will consult with Allies and partners. pic.twitter.com/18p0PEahUl
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 8, 2021
Secretary Blinken announced Brussels to be Tom West’s first stop in Europe where he will discuss Afghanistan’s situation with the allies. Meanwhile, Ambassador Von Brandt, head of the European Union’s delegation to Afghanistan, stated that he is looking forward to meeting West over the Kabul crisis.
The US envoy also aims to visit Pakistan and India during the tour to represent the United States’ stance on Afghanistan. He looks forward to engaging with the international community to collectively help Afghanistan amid the crisis.
Ambassador West will ensure USA’s regular humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan during the diplomatic consultations. Since the US government severed economic ties with Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in mid-August; the Taliban may ask him to unfreeze Kabul’s reserves in the US banks.
Thomas West’s Afghanistan-centric tour indicates the Unite States’ desire to stay engaged with Kabul despite its withdrawal in mid-August. The US envoy aims to work with the Taliban government to negotiate with other religious, ethnic, and political groups as well.
Thomas West is America’s new special representative for the war-torn country. Earlier in his career, Thomas worked as a Pakistan desk officer in Washington and a political officer at U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. He also served as the State Department’s senior diplomat in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, from 2011-2012.
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