List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Afghanistan explained

Post:	His Majesty’s Ambassador to Afghanistan
Formation:	1922
Inaugural:	Sir Francis Humphrys First Envoy Extraordinary to Afghanistan Sir Giles Squire First Ambassador to Afghanistan
Termlength:	At His Majesty's pleasure
Reports To:	Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Appointer:	The Crown on advice of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Style:	His Excellency Ambassador
Incumbentsince:	July 2023
Incumbent:	Robert Chatterton Dickson (non-resident chargé d’affaires)
Department:	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Flagborder:	yes
Flagsize:	200
Insigniacaption:	Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Insigniasize:	120px
Insignia:	Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg
Website:	British Embassy Kabul

The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Afghanistan is the United Kingdom's foremost diplomatic representative in Afghanistan, and head of the UK's diplomatic mission in Kabul. The official title is His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

The Treaty of Rawalpindi of 1921 provided for the exchange of diplomatic representatives between the two countries. Until 1948 the British ministers in Kabul were members of the Indian Political Service, appointed by the Foreign Office.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary

• 1922–1929: Sir Francis Humphrys
• 1929–1935: Sir Richard Maconachie
• 1935–1941: Sir William Fraser-Tytler
• 1941–1943: Sir Francis Wylie
• 1943–1948: Sir Giles Squire^[1]

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

• 1948–1949: Sir Giles Squire^[2]
• 1949–1951: Sir John Gardener^[3]
• 1951–1953: Eric Lingeman^[4]
• 1953–1957: Sir Daniel Lascelles^[5]
• 1957–1963: Sir Michael Gillett^[6]
• 1963–1965: Sir Arthur de la Mare^[7]
• 1965–1968: Sir Gordon Whitteridge^[8]
• 1968–1972: Peers Lee Carter^[9]
• 1972–1976: John Drinkall^[10]
• 1976–1979: Kenneth Crook^[11]
• 1979–1980: Norman Hillier-Fry^[12]
• 1981–1984: John Garner (chargé d'affaires – no ambassador after the beginning of the Soviet–Afghan War)
• 1984–1987: Charles Drace-Francis (chargé d'affaires)
• 1987–1989: Ian Mackley (chargé d'affaires)
• 1989–2000: No representation
• 2001–2002: Stephen Evans (chargé d'affaires)^[13]
• 2002–2003: Ronald Nash^[14]
• 2003–2006: Dame Rosalind Marsden
• 2006–2007: Stephen Evans
• 2007–2009: Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles
• 2009–2010: Sir Mark Sedwill
• 2010–2012: Sir William Patey
• 2012–2015: Sir Richard Stagg^[15]
• 2015–2016: Dame Karen Pierce^[16]
• 2016–2017: Dominic Jermey^[17]
• 2017–2018: Sir Nicholas Kay^[18]
• 2018–2019: Giles Lever (chargé d'affaires)^[19]
• 2019–2021: Alison Blake^{[20] [21]}
• June-November 2021: Sir Laurie Bristow^[22]
• 2021-2022: Dr Martin Longden (non-resident chargé d’affaires based at the British Embassy in Doha following the fall of Kabul).^[23]

• 2022-2023: Hugo Shorter (non-resident chargé d’affaires based at the British Embassy in Doha following the fall of Kabul).^[24]

External links

• UK in Afghanistan, gov.uk

Notes and References

1. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36202/pages/4458 The London Gazette, 8 October 1943
2. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/38398/pages/4865 The London Gazette, 7 September 1948
3. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/38763/pages/5469 The London Gazette, 18 November 1949
4. https://books.google.com/books?id=SivwAAAAMAAJ&q=John+Helier+Le+Rougetel The Diplomatic service list
5. Web site: LASCELLES, Sir Daniel William . Who Was Who . A & C Black . 2008-10-11.
6. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/41200/pages/5919 The London Gazette, 11 October 1957
7. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/43058/pages/6079 The London Gazette, 18 July 1963
8. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/43831/pages/11310 The London Gazette, 3 December 1965
9. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1324152/Peers-Carter.html Peers Carter
10. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/45876/supplements/480 The London Gazette, 11 January 1973
11. http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U12398 CROOK, Kenneth Roy
12. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/48055/pages/64 The London Gazette, 3 January 1980
13. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/nov/20/september11.afghanistan Spotlight falls on Afghan expert
14. http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U29198 NASH, Ronald Peter
15. Web site: UK in Afghanistan – Our Ambassador . 2012-07-22 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20121213071144/http://ukinafghanistan.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/our-embassy/ambassador/ . 13 December 2012 .
16. http://www.gov.uk/government/people/karen-pierce Karen Pierce
17. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-her-majestys-ambassador-to-afghanistan--3 Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Afghanistan
18. News: Britain's new ambassador to Afghanistan Nicholas Kay takes over . ITV Afghanistan . 21 August 2017 . 21 August 2017 . 21 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170821211339/http://1tvnews.af/en/news/afghanistan/30885-britains-new-ambassador-to-afghanistan-nicholas-kay-takes-over . dead .
19. Web site: UK Ambassador to Afghanistan appointed as next NATO Senior Civilian Representative . Foreign & Commonwealth Office . 5 December 2018.
20. UKinAfghanistan . 1131521906962763776 . 23 May 2019 . British Ambassador Alison Blake presents her credentials.
21. Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Afghanistan - May 2019. GOV.UK. en. 15 April 2019. 7 June 2019.
22. Web site: Sir Laurie Bristow KCMG . FCDO . 9 January 2022.
23. Web site: Chargé d'Affaires British Embassy Kabul Dr Martin Longden . FCDO . 9 January 2022.
24. Web site: Appointment of Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the UK Mission to Afghanistan: Hugo Shorter . 2022-10-06 . GOV.UK . en.