United States Ambassador to Afghanistan
Encyclopedia
The United States Ambassador to Afghanistan is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state
of Afghanistan.
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 Harrison Hornibrook, who was concurrently commissioned to Persia
, as Iran was known then, and resident 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.
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.
Following the ouster of the Taliban, 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.
The U.S. Embassy to Afghanistan
is located in Kabul
.
Note: The 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.
Note: Legation Kabul was opened June 6, 1942 with Charles W. Thayer as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
Note: During 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.
Note: Peter Tomsen
served as Special Envoy to Afghanistan (to the Northern Alliance
) 1989–1992.
Note: The U.S. Embassy Kabul was closed in January 1989. The Embassy was reopened January 30, 2001.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of Afghanistan.
The United States recognized
Diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state...
Afghanistan, then under the rule of King Amānullāh
Amanullah Khan
Amanullah Khan was the King of the Emirate of Afghanistan from 1919 to 1929, first as Amir and after 1926 as Shah. He led Afghanistan to independence over its foreign affairs from the United Kingdom, and his rule was marked by dramatic political and social change...
, on July 26, 1921. Diplomatic relations were established in 1935. The first ambassador appointed to Afghanistan was William Harrison Hornibrook, who was concurrently commissioned to Persia
United States Ambassador to Iran
Prior to 1944, Iran was not served by a United States ambassador; instead, a diplomatic minister was sent instead. After the revolution in 1944, the first ambassador was then named....
, as Iran was known then, and resident in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. Until 1942, the U.S. Ambassador to Persia/Iran was also the Ambassador to Afghanistan. The U.S. Legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
at Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
was established on June 6, 1942, with Charles W. Thayer
Charles W. Thayer
Charles W. Thayer was an American diplomat and author. He was an expert on Soviet-American relations and headed the Voice of America.-Early years:...
as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim
Ad interim
The Latin phrase ad interim literally means "in the time between" denotes the meaning of "in the meantime", "for an intervening time" or "temporarily" in the English language...
. Cornelius Van Hemert Engert presented his credentials
Letter of Credence
A letter of credence is a formal letter usually sent by one head of state to another that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
to the government of Afghanistan on July 2, 1942, as the first envoy solely accredited to Afghanistan.
Ambassador Adolph Dubs
Adolph Dubs
Adolph "Spike" Dubs was the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan from May 13, 1978 until his death in 1979. He was killed in an exchange of fire after a kidnapping attempt.-Career:...
was assassinated
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
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.
Following the ouster of the Taliban, 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
Afghan Interim Administration
The Afghan Interim Administration was the first administration of Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime and was the highest authority of the country from 22 December 2001 until 13 July 2003.-Background:...
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
Ryan Crocker
Ryan Clark Crocker is a Career Ambassador within the United States Foreign Service and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He currently is the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan. He was the United States Ambassador to Iraq until 2009; he previously served as the U.S...
as Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
The U.S. Embassy to Afghanistan
U.S. Embassy, Kabul
The Embassy of the United States in Kabul is the diplomatic mission of the United States in Afghanistan. It is located in the Wazir Akbar Khan section of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and is home to the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. Ryan Crocker is the current Ambassador. Richard Holbrooke, who died...
is located in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
.
Ambassadors and chiefs of mission
- William H. Hornibrook – Political appointee
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: January 22, 1935
- Presented credentials: May 4, 1935
- Terminated mission: Left Tehran March 16, 1936
Note: The 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.
- Louis G. Dreyfus, Jr. – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 16, 1940
- Presented credentials: May 19, 1941
- Terminated mission: Superseded by establishment of legation in Kabul, July 25, 1942
Note: Legation Kabul was opened June 6, 1942 with Charles W. Thayer as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
- Cornelius Van Hemert Engert – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 2, 1942
- Presented credentials: July 2, 1942
- Terminated mission: Left post August 17, 1945
- Ely E. Palmer – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 9, 1945
- Presented credentials: December 6, 1945
- Terminated mission: Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Note: During 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.
- Ely E. Palmer – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 6, 1948
- Presented credentials: June 5, 1948
- Terminated mission: Left post November 18, 1948
- Louis G. Dreyfus, Jr. – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 21, 1949
- Presented credentials: August 16, 1949
- Terminated mission: Left post January 19, 1951
- George Robert Merrell – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 19, 1951
- Presented credentials: June 28, 1951
- Terminated mission: Left post May 3, 1952
- Angus I. Ward – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 27, 1952
- Presented credentials: November 8, 1952
- Terminated mission: Left post March 3, 1956
- Sheldon T. Mills – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 28, 1956
- Presented credentials: May 6, 1956
- Terminated mission: Left post February 3, 1959
- Henry A. ByroadeHenry A. ByroadeBrigadier General Henry Alfred Byroade, United States Army of Indiana was a career diplomat who served as Ambassador to Egypt in 1955 and 1956 and later to five other countries, including United States Ambassador to Burma from September 1963 to June 1968, and served as Assistant Secretary of State...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: January 29, 1959
- Presented credentials: March 21, 1959
- Terminated mission: Left post January 19, 1962
- John M. Steeves – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 7, 1962
- Presented credentials: March 20, 1962
- Terminated mission: Left post July 21, 1966
- Robert G. NeumannRobert G. NeumannRobert Gerhard Neumann was a United States politician and ambassador.-Biography:Born in Vienna, Austria, Neumann received degrees from the University of Rennes, the Consular Academy of Austria, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland Robert Gerhard...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 3, 1966
- Presented credentials: February 19, 1967
- Terminated mission: Left post September 10, 1973
- Theodore L. Eliot, Jr.Theodore L. Eliot, Jr.Theodore Lyman Eliot, Jr. was the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan . He is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 20, 1973
- Presented credentials: November 21, 1973
- Terminated mission: Left post June 14, 1978
- Adolph DubsAdolph DubsAdolph "Spike" Dubs was the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan from May 13, 1978 until his death in 1979. He was killed in an exchange of fire after a kidnapping attempt.-Career:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 27, 1978
- Presented credentials: July 12, 1978
- Terminated mission: Assassinated at post February 14, 1979
- J. Bruce Amstutz – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
- February 1979–February 1980
- Hawthorne Q. Mills – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
- February 1980–January 1982
- Archer K. BloodArcher BloodArcher Kent Blood was an American diplomat in Bangladesh. He served as the last American Consul General to Dhaka, East Pakistan. He is famous for sending the strongly worded Blood telegram protesting against the atrocities committed in the Bangladesh Liberation War.-Biography:Archer Blood was...
– Career FSO- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
- Nomination rejected by the Afghanistan government
- Charles F. Dunbar – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
- 1982–1983
- Edward HurwitzEdward HurwitzEdward Hurwitz is an American diplomat. From 1983 to 1986 he was the U.S. chargé d'affaires in Afghanistan, and he served as the first U.S. ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, from 1992 to 1994.-References:...
– Career FSO- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
- 1983–1986
- James Maurice Ealum
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
- March 1986–September 1987
- Jon D. Glassman
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
- 1987–1989
Note: Peter Tomsen
Peter Tomsen
Peter Tomsen is a retired American diplomat and educator, serving as United States Special Envoy to Afghanistan from 1989 to 1992, and United States Ambassador to Armenia between 1995 and 1998...
served as Special Envoy to Afghanistan (to the Northern Alliance
Northern Alliance
The Afghan Northern Alliance is a military-political umbrella organization created by the Islamic State of Afghanistan in 1996.Northern Alliance may also refer to:*Northern Alliance , a Canadian white supremacist group...
) 1989–1992.
Note: The U.S. Embassy Kabul was closed in January 1989. The Embassy was reopened January 30, 2001.
- James F. DobbinsJames F. DobbinsJames Francis Dobbins, Jr. is a diplomat and former United States Ambassador to the European Union and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs . He is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador (in charge of reestablishing U.S. Embassy)
- Served: December 2001–January 2002
- Ryan CrockerRyan CrockerRyan Clark Crocker is a Career Ambassador within the United States Foreign Service and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He currently is the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan. He was the United States Ambassador to Iraq until 2009; he previously served as the U.S...
– Career FSO- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
- Appointed: January 17, 2002
- Presented credentials: Unknown
- Terminated mission: April 3, 2002
- Robert FinnRobert Finn (ambassador)Robert Patrick John Finn was the first United States ambassador to Afghanistan in more than 20 years, from March 22, 2002 until November 27, 2003. He was succeeded by Zalmay Khalilzad....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 21, 2002
- Presented credentials: April 3, 2002
- Terminated mission: Left post August 1, 2003
- Zalmay KhalilzadZalmay KhalilzadZalmay Mamozy Khalilzad is a counselor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and president of Khalilzad Associates, an international business consulting firm based in Washington, DC. He was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 17, 2003
- Presented credentials: November 28, 2003
- Terminated mission: Left post June 20, 2005
- Ronald E. NeumannRonald E. NeumannRonald E. Neumann was formerly the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan and previously served as ambassador to Bahrain and Algeria . He is the son of former ambassador Robert G. Neumann and traveled extensively after college in Afghanistan while his father was ambassador there...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 27, 2005
- Presented credentials: August 1, 2005
- Terminated mission: Left post April 10, 2007
- William Braucher WoodWilliam Braucher WoodWilliam Braucher Wood was the former Ambassador from the United States of America to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. His term of appointment began April 16, 2007, which replaced the former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ronald E. Neumann.William B...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 28, 2007
- Presented credentials: April 16, 2007
- Terminated mission: c. March 2009
- Karl EikenberryKarl EikenberryKarl Winfrid Eikenberry is a retired United States Army Lieutenant General and former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.-Education:Eikenberry graduated from Goldsboro High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1969 and then attended West Point, where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 3, 2009
- Presented credentials: Unknown
- Terminated mission: July 25, 2011
- Ryan CrockerRyan CrockerRyan Clark Crocker is a Career Ambassador within the United States Foreign Service and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He currently is the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan. He was the United States Ambassador to Iraq until 2009; he previously served as the U.S...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 7, 2009
- Presented credentials: July 25, 2011
- Terminated mission: Incumbent
See also
- U.S. Embassy, KabulU.S. Embassy, KabulThe Embassy of the United States in Kabul is the diplomatic mission of the United States in Afghanistan. It is located in the Wazir Akbar Khan section of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and is home to the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. Ryan Crocker is the current Ambassador. Richard Holbrooke, who died...
- Afghanistan - United States relations
- Foreign relations of AfghanistanForeign relations of AfghanistanThe foreign relations of Afghanistan, like those of any country, have changed along with the political, sociological, and economic state of the various parts of Afghanistan.-Overview:...
- Ambassadors of the United States