Washington, 21 October 2021 (GNP/ TDI): The Biden Administration has Selected Thomas West, as America’s new Special Representative for the war-torn country. He is a diplomat with years of experience in Afghanistan.
In prior roles in government, Thomas west served as Special Advisor to the Vice President for South Asia and Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the National Security Council from 2012-2015.
From 2011-2012, he was the State Department’s senior diplomat in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. At that time, he worked with U.S. military colleagues and managed the civilian staff of a Provincial Reconstruction Team.
From 2008-10, he served as Special Assistant for South and Central Asia to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. He focused on growing the U.S.-India strategic partnership. Early in his career, Thomas west was a political officer at U.S. Embassy Islamabad and Pakistan desk officer in Washington.
Thomas west was a Vice President at The Cohen Group, a global strategic advisory firm. Also, a non-resident scholar at The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Thomas west studied M.A. in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Also, B.A. in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University.
Moreover, the decision indicates the Biden administration’s desire to stay engaged with Afghanistan despite the withdrawal of all its troops from the country in August this year. He will work with the Taliban to include other religious and ethnic factions and political groups as well. However, He will also try to convince the Taliban to respect human rights, reopen schools for girls and allow women to work.
In addition, Ambassador Thomas West will be required to ensure regular humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. The Taliban may ask him to resume economic aid and unfreeze Afghanistan’s reserves in US banks. The Biden administration seized the assets. it severed economic ties with Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in mid-August.