Thomas West, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, stated that he will visit India, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
According to a press release from the US Department of State, and the US official’s Twitter handle, West will visit the regional countries from December 1- December 8 to consult with interlocutors.
The US special representative for Afghanistan stated that during his visit, he will engage with US and Afghan partners to defend Afghans’ rights and address common security concerns.
In addition to that, Thomas West is set to discuss the economic crisis and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
According to a Department of State statement, Special Representative West will also consult with Afghan diaspora figures, including human rights, business, political, and media leaders, on ways to address the current challenges.
The Hindustan Times of India has reported that West will visit officials of the Indian External Affairs Ministry and National Security Council, during his visit to India.
The visit will allow West to provide the latest US perspective on Afghanistan to Indian officials, while the Indian side will be able to brief him on its perceptions on the ground since New Delhi re-established a diplomatic presence in Kabul.
West’s visit comes at a time when many countries in the region and the world community have expressed concerns over the resurgence of terrorism in Afghanistan following the political upheaval in the country last year.
