KABUL (Pajhwok): Richard Lindsay, the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has described his visit to Kabul as “productive and valuable,” saying he urged Afghan officials to support a return to dialogue and diplomacy between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Lindsay arrived in Kabul earlier this week and held talks with officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
Speaking to journalists in Kabul on Thursday, he said the visit had focused primarily on Afghanistan–Pakistan relations. “This issue has dominated my discussions with the authorities here, and I have been encouraging a return to dialogue and diplomacy,” he noted.
He also stressed the importance of reopening routes for humanitarian aid to enter Afghanistan from Pakistan, calling it critical. According to Lindsay, at least one million people—men, women and children—are in urgent need of assistance.
He said both sides must take meaningful steps to resolve their differences. “I hope there will be positive progress following the talks in Urumqi, hosted by China. A number of other countries have also expressed readiness to act as mediators,” he added.
Lindsay expressed condolences over civilian casualties in the ongoing tensions. “I would like to express my condolences for the loss of civilian lives. I encourage both sides to take steps to prevent further harm, whether from terrorism or military operations. The conflict has significantly affected the delivery of humanitarian aid into Afghanistan,” he said.
He noted that the United Kingdom is allocating £150 million this year to support humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, including health, nutrition, food assistance, livelihoods and education.
On UK–Afghanistan relations, Lindsay said: “We are committed to strengthening our bilateral relationship, but this depends on actions taken by the authorities here.”
He added that a key purpose of his visit was to engage directly with Afghan officials and outline the steps needed to deepen ties. “A stronger relationship will help support Afghanistan’s future prosperity,” he said.
In his concluding remarks, Lindsay said the United Kingdom currently has no plans to reopen the Afghan embassy in London, noting that such a move would depend on future developments.
sa
