INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
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.The post US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West moves to different role first
