Former UK ambassador Sir Nicholas Kay took over as NATO’s senior civilian representative (SCR) in Afghanistan on Tuesday after his appointment in December last year.
Previously, Sir Nicholas has served for more than a year as the British Ambassador in Kabul.
With extensive experience on Afghanistan and the South Asia region, the new SCR had also worked as UK Regional Coordinator for Southern Afghanistan in Helmand province in 2006–2007 and as Head of the Pakistan and Afghanistan Section in the South Asian Department of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1995–1997.
He also has extensive experience in helping to build peace in fragile and conflict affected states and have served as the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Somalia.
Sir Nicholas replaces Ambassador Cornelius Zimmermann of Germany, who held the post since March 2017.
Announcing his appointment in December 2018, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Sir Nicholas Kay as NATO’s next Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan.”
Stoltenberg said Sir Nicholas Kay would take up his appointment in March 2019 and that he knew Afghanistan well, having served for more than a year as the United Kingdom Ambassador in Kabul.
The Senior Civilian Representative carries forward the Alliance’s political-military objectives in Afghanistan, representing the political leadership of the Alliance in Kabul officially and publicly.
The role involves liaising with the Afghan Government, civil society, representatives of the international community, and neighboring countries.
Working closely with the Resolute Support mission, the Senior Civilian Representative provides a direct channel of communication with NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
