EU Special Representative for Afghanistan Says Mission Has Ended

Jil Bertrand, the European Union’s special representative for Afghanistan, has said his mission in the role has ended. He said he was concluding his tenure with the belief that dialogue among all segments of Afghan society is the only way forward.

Bertrand wrote on his X account on Thursday, 19 Sonbola, that Afghan women and young people can play an important role in building a better future for their country. He stressed the contribution of these two groups to Afghanistan’s future process.

The former EU official also said Afghanistan and its people matter to Europe. According to him, the EU’s principled approach after 2021 has been shaped on this basis and has continued without normalising or legitimising Taliban rule.

In another part of his message, Bertrand added that despite his deep differences with Taliban officials, he valued the respectful interactions he had with them. He did not provide further details about the end of his mission or a possible successor.

Jil Bertrand was appointed as the European Union’s special representative for Afghanistan in the month of Mizan last year. After the 2021 political change, the European Union has, alongside continued humanitarian aid, emphasised cautious engagement with Afghanistan and avoiding legitimising Taliban rule.