Kabul, Afghanistan, June 21, 2025 – The UK government has strengthened its diplomatic engagement in South Asia by appointing Richard Stephen Lindsay as its new Special Envoy for Afghanistan, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) announced on Friday.
Lindsay will officially assume his duties in June 2025, taking over from Andrew McCoubrey, who previously served as the UK’s Special Representative for both Afghanistan and Pakistan. This appointment reflects the UK’s continued effort to engage with the region strategically, even though it no longer maintains a formal diplomatic presence within Afghanistan.
A Seasoned Diplomat with Deep Regional Ties
With more than two decades of diplomatic experience, Lindsay brings extensive knowledge of South Asia to the role. Since 2022, he has worked as the Deputy Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the FCDO. His relationship with Afghanistan goes back to 2001, when he contributed to the Foreign Office’s political and military strategy within the Afghanistan Emergency Unit.
Now, as Special Envoy, Lindsay will direct the UK’s Afghanistan policy from Doha, Qatar, where the UK relocated its diplomatic mission following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
Shifting Diplomatic Representation
At the same time, Robert Chatterton Dickson continues to serve as the UK’s Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan, a position he has held since July 2023. This new appointment signals a broader reshaping of UK diplomatic efforts in the region, especially in the wake of the UK embassy’s closure in Kabul and the Afghanistan embassy’s shutdown in London in September 2024. Subsequently, the UK government took possession of the Afghan embassy premises.
International Diplomatic Dynamics with the Taliban
Meanwhile, international engagement with the Taliban remains cautious. No country has formally recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government, yet several have maintained ties through informal diplomatic channels. For instance, China, the UAE, and Uzbekistan have accepted Taliban-appointed ambassadors. More recently, Pakistan announced plans to appoint an ambassador to Kabul, a move the Taliban is likely to reciprocate.
Strategic Outlook
As Richard Lindsay takes on this pivotal role, the UK seeks to strike a careful balance between regional security, international norms, and diplomatic engagement. The Special Envoy for Afghanistan remains a key figure in shaping British policy in South Asia and Lindsay is now positioned at the forefront of that mission.