State Department prophet Ned Price told a news briefing on Monday autumn that Mr. West, who’s now in Brussels, would also visit Britain, Pakistan, India, and Russia.
“ Together with our mates, he’ll continue to make clear the prospects that we’ve of the Taliban and of any unborn Afghanistan government,” Mr. Price said.
Asked if the new peace envoy would also visit Afghanistan, the State Department functionary said “ There are no plans to do that.”
He said it was still not clear when Mr. West will visit Doha for addresses with Taliban officers grounded in the Qatari capital.
In a tweet posted on Tuesday, Mr. West said he was in Brussels now to consult with abettors and the EU on the way forward in Afghanistan.
An honor to be in Brussels today to consult with Allies and the EU on the way forward in Afghanistan. Visited @NATO HQ’s 9/11 memorial and recalled Allies’ historic invocation of Article V. pic.twitter.com/C31nwMbEpQ
— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) November 8, 2021
“ It’s an honor to assume the part of US Special Representative for Afghanistan. I look forward to advancing America’s vital interests and supporting the Afghan people,” he said in another tweet.
Mr. West took charge of his new office on Monday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a separate tweet that he bandied colorful issues with Mr. West ahead of his trip to “ bandy Afghanistan with transnational stakeholders.”
1/2 It is an honor to assume the role of U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan. I look forward to advancing America’s vital interests and supporting the Afghan people. https://t.co/o8Q9orMBU0
— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) November 8, 2021
In a virtual news briefing with journalists from Brussels, Mr. West said the US was upset about a supplement in attacks by militant Islamic State (IS) group’s chapter in Afghanistan and remained deeply concerned about Al Qaeda’s ongoing presence as well.
The United States, he said, was preparing for the coming round of addresses with the Taliban in Doha, but he didn’t give a date.
Opining on Mr. West’s statement about the trouble posed by IS-K zealots, the US media noted that Afghanistan’s new Taliban autocrats faced increased attacks by its ideological foe, Islamic State-Khorasan Province, the indigenous Islamic State chapter.
Mr. West said Washington was “ upset about the supplement in ISIS-K attacks, and we want the Taliban to be successful against them. Al Qaeda also has a presence there and we ’re veritably concerned about that” too. Al Qaeda’s presence “ is an issue of ongoing concern for us in our dialogue with the Taliban,” he added.
Mr. West said Washington wasn’t continuing its Kabul delegacy yet and wanted to see the Taliban “ establish a record of responsible conduct” before assessing that option.
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