Category: Kabul: Final Call

There was growing concern about Taliban military gains in the provinces. The Taliban were blocking Afghanistan’s road network and progressively isolating regional capitals. The government’s response was ineffective; its military were running short of serviceable helicopters and were putting too much of their effort into maintaining checkpoints and positions of questionable value, soaking up people…

My first meeting with a senior government official took place within two days of my arrival. Still in Covid quarantine, I dialled into a video conference between President Ghani’s National Security Adviser Hamidullah Mohib, and a group of ambassadors from the major donor countries. The subject was Women, Peace and Security, a theme of UN-sponsored development work.…

For any ambassador a key part of the job is to keep in close touch with your political masters back home. You need to understand what London needs from the embassy and make sure London gets it. And also to make sure that London knows what is actually happening on the ground, what that means…

I set off for Kabul on 13 June 2021. An overnight flight changing in Dubai, then a three-hour hop across the Gulf, Iran and Pakistan, before descending over majestic mountains and desert into Kabul. I travelled light: a couple of large bags and a backpack. The first rule of such postings is: do not take…