The U.S. Mission to Afghanistan, which is based in Doha, Qatar, stated on Sunday that Karen Decker is appointed as the new Chargé d’Affaires as Ian McCary has completed his assignment in the leadership role.
In a tweet on Sunday, the former chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy in Afghanistan said that Keren Decker had been appointed as the new US chargé d’affaires for Afghanistan and that his tenure had come to an end.
“This week I am completing my assignment as the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan, operating from Doha,” McCary wrote. “Under the leadership of my successor Karen Decker, our commitment to the Afghan people will not falter.”
Since August of last year, McCary has served as the US Embassy’s charge d’affaires in Afghanistan. After the Taliban assumed control, the embassy was relocated to Qatar, where it is currently operating.
The US official stated that he is “very disappointed” by the Taliban’s continued refusal to provide girls access to secondary schools as well as by credible allegations of violations of human rights, such as the deterioration in press freedoms and “unacceptable restrictions” on women’s rights.
Since August 15, 2021, the US has contributed more than $775 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, making it the largest donor to these efforts, according to McCary, whose term is coming to an end.
Specialized in conflict resolution and crisis management, Karen Decker previously served as the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US embassy in Kabul. Before being appointed in her new role, Decker was the Director of Afghanistan Operations for the Afghan Relocation Effort (CARE).
