Karen Decker, the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan, emphasized her continued commitment to supporting Afghan women and girls following the conclusion of Thomas West’s tenure as the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan.
In a post on X, Decker expressed her gratitude for West’s work over the past three years and outlined her plans to build on his efforts. “Deep appreciation to Special Representative Thomas West for his hard work these past three years,” she wrote. “I look forward to building on his good work with Deputy Assistant Secretary John Mark Pommersheim and Special Envoy Rina Amiri, to uphold America’s national security interests, advocate for Afghan women and girls, promote the human rights of all Afghans, and help the Afghan people in the face of a grave humanitarian crisis.”
Decker highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and reaffirmed her commitment to assisting the Afghan people. She praised West’s “tireless” efforts, particularly in advocating for human rights and engaging with international partners on Afghanistan.
The U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday that West will transition to a new role as Acting Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the State Department.
This comes as Afghanistan continues to face severe challenges, particularly in the areas of human rights, women’s rights, and humanitarian assistance. The situation for women and girls in the country has become increasingly dire under Taliban rule, with widespread restrictions on education, employment, and freedom of movement.
