UK Appoints New Special Envoy for Afghanistan

The UK government has announced the appointment of Richard Lindsay as its new Special Envoy for Afghanistan. According to the official statement, Mr. Lindsay will assume his new responsibilities later this month.

Richard Lindsay is a seasoned diplomat in the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). From 2022 until his recent appointment, he served as Deputy Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

His previous roles within the Foreign Office include Head of Security Policy and Head of Crisis Management. In 2001, he was part of the Political/Military Team in the Afghanistan Emergency Unit at the Foreign Office.

According to the UK government, Lindsay’s responsibilities as Special Envoy include advancing key UK priorities in Afghanistan, such as counter-terrorism, human rights, humanitarian assistance, and supporting dialogue toward inclusive governance.

As part of his mission, Lindsay is also expected to engage with Afghan women, ethnic and religious minorities, and civil society actors. He will work with regional countries to support shared priorities concerning Afghanistan.