The British government has appointed Stephen Doughty as Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with responsibility for Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as the Middle East and North Africa.
Doughty, who assumed the role on July 21, said in a post on X that his portfolio includes the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, sanctions, and consular affairs.
He added that he would also oversee support for British citizens overseas and work with devolved governments, mayors and local councils across the United Kingdom.
According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Doughty previously served as minister of state for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories. Before entering government, he worked with humanitarian and international development organizations, including World Vision and Oxfam, and later served as Labour’s shadow minister for foreign affairs and international development.
His new responsibilities include Afghanistan and Pakistan, sanctions, consular and crisis affairs, and devolution.
The appointment comes as Britain continues to criticize Taliban policies, particularly restrictions on women and girls, while remaining one of Afghanistan’s largest humanitarian donors since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
In an interview with Amu TV last month, the UK’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, said Britain remained “one of the most significant donors” to the Afghan people despite its differences with the Taliban.
Lindsay said the United Kingdom had provided £154 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan over the previous year, with at least half of the funding supporting women and girls through health care, food assistance and other essential services delivered by United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations.
Earlier this month, the British government reaffirmed its long-term commitment to humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, announcing £105 million a year from 2026 through 2029. The funding will support health care, nutrition, education, livelihoods and assistance for vulnerable Afghans, with women and girls remaining a priority.
