Talks underway on relocation of British embassy in Kabul

KABUL’s capital, talks are underway on relocating the British embassy in Kabul to a high-security zone, reports The Times.

British Ambassador Sir Nicholas Kay has been in talks with senior Afghan government officials, including President Ashraf Ghani, on finding a new location for the embassy.

The old building for the Transport Ministry situated close to the US embassy, was the most likely choice. The British embassy currently lies on the margin of the ‘green zone’ in Wazir Akbar Khan district.

Following a reduction in the number combat troops and a formal end to military operations by British and other NATO forces in 2014, the strength of embassy has decreased in recent years.

Britain has been studying options for a new site in Kabul, where a lorry bomb, laden with 10 tons of explosives, detonated close to the German embassy in May last year.

About 90 people were killed, and hundreds more injured in the attack. The German compound was also damaged. The Haqqani network was blamed for the massive bombing.

A week back, a suicide bombing claimed by Islamic State killed more than 40 people at a compound in the west of Kabul.

PAN Monitor

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