List of ambassadors of the United States to Afghanistan

Last updated

Ambassador of the United States to Afghanistan
US Department of State official seal.svg
Seal of the United States Department of State
Flag of a United States ambassador.svg
Flag of a United States Ambassador
Karen B. Decker.jpg
since August 1, 2022
United States Department of State
Afghan Affairs Unit at U.S. Embassy Doha
Reports to United States Secretary of State
Seat Doha, Qatar
Appointer President of the United States
with advice and consent of the Senate
Term length At the pleasure of the President
Inaugural holder William H. Hornibrook
(as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary)
Formation
  • May 4, 1935 (1935-05-04) (original)
  • December 17, 2001 (2001-12-17) (current form)
Website Official website
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul, 2010 US Embassy in Kabul on July 4th 2010.jpg
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul, 2010

The United States ambassador to Afghanistan is the official diplomatic representative of the United States to Afghanistan. In the wake of the 2021 fall of Kabul to the Taliban, the U.S. embassy in Kabul transferred operations to Doha, Qatar. Since December 31, 2021, the U.S. interests section at the Embassy of Qatar in Kabul has served as the protecting power for the U.S. in Afghanistan.

Contents

The United States recognized Afghanistan, then under the rule of King Amānullāh, on July 26, 1921. Diplomatic relations were established in 1935. The first ambassador appointed to Afghanistan was William H. Hornibrook, who was concurrently commissioned to Persia, as Iran was known then, and resided in Tehran. Until 1942, the U.S. ambassador to Persia/Iran was also the ambassador to Afghanistan. The U.S. legation at Kabul was established on June 6, 1942, with Charles W. Thayer as chargé d’affaires ad interim. Cornelius Van Hemert Engert presented his credentials to the government of Afghanistan on July 2, 1942, as the first envoy solely accredited to Afghanistan. [1]

Ambassador Adolph Dubs was assassinated in a botched kidnapping attempt in 1979. For the next ten years, no ambassador was appointed; only a series of chargés d’affaires represented the U.S. in Kabul. The embassy at Kabul was closed on January 30, 1989, due to concerns that the new regime would not be able to maintain security and protect diplomats following the final departure of Soviet forces from the country. [1]

Following the overthrow of the Taliban government, the U.S. liaison office in Kabul opened on December 17, 2001, with Ambassador James Dobbins serving as director. The United States recognized the Afghan Interim Administration on December 22, 2001, when it assumed the authority to represent Afghanistan in its external relations. The embassy reopened on January 17, 2002, with Ryan Crocker as chargé d’affaires a.i. [1]

Ambassadors and chiefs of mission

#NameTitleAppointed Presented credentials Terminated missionNotes
1 William H. Hornibrook – Political appointee [2] Envoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryJanuary 22, 1935May 4, 1935Left Tehran March 16, 1936The names of the chargés heading the Afghanistan mission between Hornibrook’s departure in 1936 and the arrival of Dreyfus in 1941 have not been recorded.
2 Louis G. Dreyfus, Jr. – Career FSO [2] Envoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryFebruary 16, 1940May 19, 1941Superseded by establishment of legation in Kabul, July 25, 1942Legation Kabul was opened June 6, 1942 with Charles W. Thayer as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
3 Cornelius Van Hemert Engert – Career FSOEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryMay 2, 1942July 2, 1942Left post August 17, 1945
4 Ely Palmer – Career FSOEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryFebruary 9, 1945December 6, 1945Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDuring Palmer’s tenure as envoy, the Legation was elevated to Embassy status on June 5, 1948, when Palmer presented his credentials to the Afghan government.
4 Ely Palmer – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 6, 1948June 5, 1948Left post November 18, 1948
5 Louis G. Dreyfus, Jr. – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryApril 21, 1949August 16, 1949Left post January 19, 1951
6 George Robert Merrell – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryApril 19, 1951June 28, 1951Left post May 3, 1952
7 Angus I. Ward – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJune 27, 1952November 8, 1952Left post March 3, 1956
8 Sheldon T. Mills – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMarch 28, 1956May 6, 1956Left post February 3, 1959
9 Henry A. Byroade – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJanuary 29, 1959March 21, 1959Left post January 19, 1962
10 John M. Steeves – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryFebruary 7, 1962March 20, 1962Left post July 21, 1966
11 Robert G. Neumann – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNovember 3, 1966February 19, 1967Left post September 10, 1973
12 Theodore L. Eliot, Jr. – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySeptember 20, 1973November 21, 1973Left post June 14, 1978
13 Adolph Dubs – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJune 27, 1978July 12, 1978Assassinated at post February 14, 1979
- J. Bruce Amstutz – Career FSOChargé d’Affaires a.i.February 14, 1979February 1980
- Hawthorne Q. Mills – Career FSOChargé d’Affaires a.i.February 1980January 1982
- Charles Franklin Dunbar – Career FSOChargé d’Affaires a.i.January 1982June 1983
- Edward Hurwitz – Career FSOChargé d’Affaires a.i.June 1983March 1986
- James Maurice Ealum Chargé d’Affaires a.i.March 1986September 1987
- Jon D. Glassman Chargé d’Affaires a.i.September 1987January 30, 1989
Peter Tomsen served as Special Envoy to Afghanistan (to the Northern Alliance) 1989–1992. The U.S. embassy in Kabul closed in January 1989. The embassy reopened on January 17, 2002. [1]
- James F. Dobbins – Career FSOAmbassador (in charge of reestablishing U.S. Embassy)December 17, 2001January 2, 2002
- Ryan Crocker – Career FSOChargé d’Affaires a.i.January 2, 2002 [3] UnknownApril 3, 2002
14 Robert Finn – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMarch 21, 2002April 3, 2002Left post August 1, 2004
15 Zalmay Khalilzad – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 17, 2004September 28, 2004Left post June 20, 2005
16 Ronald E. Neumann – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJune 27, 2005August 1, 2005Left post April 10, 2007
17 William Braucher Wood – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMarch 28, 2007April 16, 2007April 9, 2009
18 Karl Eikenberry – Political appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryApril 3, 2009May 21, 2009July 25, 2011
19 Ryan Crocker – Career FSO [4] [5] Ambassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJuly 7, 2011 [6] July 25, 2011 [7] July 13, 2012
20 James B. Cunningham - Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 2012, Sworn in as ambassador August 12, 2012.August 13, 2012 [8] December 7, 2014
21 P. Michael McKinley - Career FSO [9] Ambassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDecember 2014January 6, 2015 [10] December 18, 2016
- Hugo Llorens Career Ambassador and Special Chargé d’AffairesDecember 19, 2016November 17, 2017
22 John R. Bass Ambassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySeptember 28, 2017December 12, 2017January 6, 2020 [11]
- Ross Wilson Chargé d’Affaires [12] January 18, 2020August 31, 2021
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul transferred operations to Doha, Qatar, on August 31, 2021, following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. [13] [14] Since December 31, the U.S. Interests Section at the Embassy of Qatar in Kabul has served as the protecting power for the U.S. in Afghanistan. [15]
- Ian McCary Chargé d’AffairesAugust 31, 2021 [16] [17] [18] July 31, 2022
- Karen B. Decker Chargé d’AffairesAugust 1, 2022 [19] Incumbent

Notes

    See also

    Related Research Articles

    The foreign relations of Afghanistan are in a transitional phase since the 2021 fall of Kabul to the Taliban and the collapse of the internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. No country has recognised the new Taliban-run government, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Although some countries have engaged in informal diplomatic contact with the Islamic Emirate, formal relations remain limited to representatives of the Islamic Republic.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambassadors of the United States</span> United States diplomatic position

    Ambassadors of the United States are persons nominated by the president to serve as the United States' diplomatic representatives to foreign nations, international organizations, and as ambassadors-at-large. Under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, their appointment must be confirmed by the United States Senate; while an ambassador may be appointed during a recess, they can serve only until the end of the next session of Congress, unless subsequently confirmed.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Crocker</span> American diplomat (born 1949)

    Ryan Clark Crocker is a retired American diplomat who served as a career ambassador within the United States Foreign Service. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he served as United States ambassador to Afghanistan (2011–2012), Iraq (2007–2009), Pakistan (2004–2007), Syria (1998–2001), Kuwait (1994–1997), and Lebanon (1990–1993). In January 2010, he became dean of Texas A&M University's George Bush School of Government and Public Service.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

    Relations between Afghanistan and the United States began in 1921 under the leaderships of King Amanullah Khan and President Warren G. Harding, respectively. The first contact between the two nations occurred further back in the 1830s when the first recorded person from the United States explored Afghanistan. The United States government foreign aid program provided about $500 million in aid for economic development; the aid ended before the 1978 Saur Revolution. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was a turning point in the Cold War, when the United States started to financially support the Afghan resistance. The country, under both the Carter and Reagan administrations committed $3 billion in financial and diplomatic support and along with Pakistan also rendering critical support to the anti-Soviet Mujahideen forces. Beginning in 1980, the United States began admitting thousands of Afghan refugees for resettlement, and provided money and weapons to the Mujahideen through Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The USSR withdrew its troops in 1989.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross L. Wilson</span> American diplomat (born 1955)

    Ross L. Wilson is an American diplomat who was the chargé d'affaires of the United States to Afghanistan from 2020 to 2021. He was the U.S. ambassador to Turkey from 2005 to 2008 and the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan from 2000 to 2003, with the personal rank of minister-counselor. He also teaches part-time at Carleton College. Wilson also previously served as director of the Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan–Iran relations</span> Bilateral relations

    Relations between Afghanistan and modern Iran were officially established in 1935 during Zahir Shah's reign and the Pahlavi dynasty's Reza Shah Pahlavi, though ties between the two countries have existed for millennia. As a result, many Afghans speak Persian, as Dari is one of the official languages of Afghanistan, and many in Afghanistan also celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan–India relations</span> Bilateral relations

    Afghanistan–India relations are the diplomatic relations between India and Afghanistan. They had been historical neighbors when India was under colonial rule and have since shared cultural ties through Bollywood and cricket.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Zamir Kabulov</span> Russian diplomat

    Zamir Kabulov is a high rank career diplomat and Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan. He is the Special Representative for Afghanistan since 2022

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan–Canada relations</span> Bilateral relations

    Afghanistan and Canada established diplomatic relations in 1968. In 2003, Canada opened its embassy in Kabul and appointed its first resident ambassador. Afghanistan appointed its first resident ambassador to Canada in 2002. In August 2021, Canada closed its embassy in Kabul with the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan. Since the 2021 Taliban coup, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's embassy in Ottawa continues to be served by diplomats representing the former government; in addition, the Afghan embassy in Canada has been accredited to provide diplomatic services to the United States, following the closure of the country's Washington, D.C. embassy.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C.</span> Diplomatic mission

    The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C. was the primary diplomatic mission of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States. The building is located at 2341 Wyoming Avenue N.W. in Washington, D.C.'s Kalorama neighborhood. The chancery is built in the Colonial Revival style.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of the United States, Kabul</span> Former U.S. diplomatic mission to Afghanistan

    The Embassy of the United States of America in Kabul was the official diplomatic mission of the United States of America to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Its chancery on Great Massoud Road in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood of the Afghan capital of Kabul was built at a cost of nearly $800 million.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan–Turkmenistan relations</span> Bilateral relations

    The contemporary borders of the nations of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan are the products of The Great Game in Central Asia between the British and Russian Empires. As a result, the two countries have some cultural ties, with Afghanistan having 1.2 million Turkmen, the third largest Turkmen population behind Iran and Turkmenistan.

    An embassy without a government is a diplomatic mission that represents a deposed government to its host country. Such a mission usually arises from a civil conflict that leads to a regime change from an internationally recognised government to one or more new governments that may or may not be recognised when established for a variety of reasons.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan</span> International relations of Afghanistans Taliban government

    The Taliban has ruled Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since taking control by force in 2021, overthrowing the internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The takeover was widely criticized by the international community, and no countries have extended de jure diplomatic recognition to the new regime, despite nominally maintaining relations with Afghanistan. The Taliban has campaigned for international recognition since the takeover. Several countries have vowed never to recognize the Islamic Emirate, and others have said they will do so only if human rights in the country are respected. Some countries have accredited Taliban diplomats at the chargé d'affaires level despite not recognizing the Islamic Emirate. In September 2023, the People's Republic of China became the first country to formally name a new ambassador to the country since the takeover, and in January 2024 recognized the Taliban's envoy to China; however, the PRC still does not formally recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The United Arab Emirates also accepted a Taliban appointed diplomat as Afghanistan's new ambassador in August 2024.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "Afghanistan". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
    2. 1 2 Also accredited to Iran.
    3. ↑ "Previous U.S. Ambassadors to Afghanistan". U.S. Embassy in Kabul. U.S. Department of State. February 21, 2017. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
    4. ↑ "Ryan Crocker Sworn in as New Ambassador to Afghanistan". ABC News Radio. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
    5. ↑ "Public Schedule for July 7, 2011". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
    6. ↑ Sworn in as ambassador July 7, 2011. As of July 17, not yet acceded to post.
    7. ↑ "Ambassador Crocker Presents Credentials". United States Department of State, U.S. Embassy Kabul. July 25, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
    8. ↑ "Ambassador James B. Cunningham Presents Credentials". August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
    9. ↑ "Ambassador". Embassy of the United States Kabul, Afghanistan. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
    10. ↑ "Press Releases 2015". Embassy of the United States Kabul, Afghanistan. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
    11. ↑ "US ambassador to Afghanistan leaving post in 'long-planned' departure". 6 January 2020.
    12. ↑ "Chargé d'Affaires Ross Wilson". U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
    13. ↑ Jakes, Lara (30 August 2021). "In a final blow of the 20-year war, U.S. envoys close their embassy and exit Kabul". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2 April 2022.
    14. ↑ U.S. Embassy in Kabul (31 August 2021). "Security Message: Suspension of Operations" . Retrieved 2 April 2022.
    15. ↑ Beitsch, Rebecca; Rai, Sarakshi (12 November 2021). "Qatar to formally represent US interests in Afghanistan". The Hill . Retrieved 3 April 2022.
    16. ↑ Lippman, Daniel; Ward, Alexander (9 September 2021). "Top U.S. diplomat during Kabul evacuation tests positive for Covid". Politico . Retrieved 3 April 2022.
    17. ↑ Kelemen, Michele (3 September 2021). "Blinken Will Visit Qatar, Where Diplomats Relocated To Keep Working On Afghanistan". NPR . Retrieved 3 April 2022.
    18. ↑ "U.N. and U.S. raise concern over reports of Afghan journalist arrests". Reuters . 18 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
    19. ↑ Our ambassador US Embassy
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.