Ashdown withdraws from consideration for United Nations Afghan post

Lord Ashdown announced today that he has withdrawn from consideration for the post of United Nations envoy to Afghanistan.

The move comes after the Afghan ambassador said that the former Liberal Democarat leader was held in high regard, he was not Kabul’s preferred candidate. Zahir Tanin said Afghanistan’s choice would be General John McColl, Nato’s deputy commander in Europe.

In a statement, Lord Ashdown said: “This job can only be done successfully on the basis of a consensus within the international community and the clear support of the Government of Afghanistan.

“It is clear to me that, in Afghanistan at least, the support necessary to do the job effectively does not exist.

“I have therefore reluctantly decided to withdraw my name from consideration for this position.�

Lord Ashdown, who served as the UN’s High Representative and EU envoy to Bosnia from 2002 to 2005, said he remained convinced of the urgent need for “proper co-ordination of the international effort� in Afghanistan.

In a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon informing him of his decision, Lord Ashdown cited widespread reports that President Karzai opposed his appointment as special envoy - “partially based on my nationality and Britain’s role in Afghanistan�.

“I have always been of the view that this job only stands a chance of being successfully carried out if it enjoys consensus within the international community and the whole hearted agreement of the government of Afghanistan,� he added. “I just do not believe it is feasible in the face of opposition from the elected government of Afghanistan. “It is with regret that I have therefore concluded that it would now be impossible for me to do the job you asked me to do in Afghanistan and that it would be best for me to withdraw my name from this process.�

Afghanistan’s preferred choice, the British Nato commander General McColl, served as the first head of the international security force in Afghanistan in 2002. Mr Tanin said yesterday that the Afghan government was surprised to see Lord Ashdown being portrayed in the British media as the final choice for the post.

“A negative atmosphere was generated through the media inside and outside Afghanistan, particularly in Britain, which hit a lot of nerves and paved the way for misunderstanding and concerns,� he told the BBC. “It was about thinking who is going to be more helpful and who is going to be more able to work with the Afghan government and with different elements of the international community in Afghanistan.�

President Karzai, who last week accused British forces of aggravating the security situation in his country, was thought to regard Lord Ashdown as too strong a figure and to fear his super-envoy role would make the Afghan government appear weak.