KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, called for de-escalation between the Taliban and Pakistan, the reopening of girls’ schools, and for women to be allowed to work during meetings with senior Taliban authorities in Kabul.
In a statement on X after returning from Kabul, Lindsay stated that he held “important meetings” with senior Taliban ministers and emphasized the need to ease regional tensions and restore education and employment opportunities for Afghan women and girls.
“Just returned from Kabul, where I had important meetings with senior Taliban ministers. I called for de-escalation with Pakistan, girls to return to school, and women to be allowed to work,” he wrote. He also highlighted the “vital work” of local media and UK-supported civil society organizations.
The Taliban have not commented on his remarks.
During the visit, Lindsay met with senior Taliban figures, including the group’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as well as other authorities in Kabul.
Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, Lindsay welcomed recent talks between the Taliban and Pakistani authorities and expressed hope that these efforts would lead to a reduction in tensions between the two countries. He encouraged the sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy, according to local media Ariana News.
He warned that the continued closure of key border crossings had disrupted the delivery of humanitarian assistance and trade flows, affecting communities on both sides of the frontier. Around one million people in border areas urgently need aid, he said.
Britain has allocated 150 million pounds this year to support Afghanistan’s health, food, and education sectors, Lindsay added, describing the funding as part of ongoing efforts to address humanitarian needs.
He also emphasized the importance of women’s participation in the economy, saying that Afghanistan’s economic growth would not be possible without the inclusion of women and girls in education and the workforce.
Before travelling to Kabul, Lindsay visited Islamabad in late March, where he met Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq. The two discussed Afghanistan’s situation, security concerns, rising threats of militancy, and regional stability, Sadiq said.
Cross-border tensions between Taliban forces and Pakistan have continued intermittently for more than two months, with sporadic clashes reported along the frontier. The violence has caused hundreds of civilian casualties in Afghanistan, disrupted trade routes, and restricted movement through major crossings, adding pressure to already strained local economies.
Despite mediation efforts by several regional countries, including China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, the two sides have not reached an agreement to end the fighting, raising concerns about prolonged instability along the border region.
