British diplomat appointed NATO’s new Afghan envoy

BRUSSELS - Britain’s ambassador to Afghanistan Mark Sedwill has been appointed as new senior civilian representative of NATO in the conflict-hit country.

NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced that Sedwill will take office after the London Conference Jan 28, EuAsiaNews reported Tuesday.

“Ambassador Sedwill is eminently qualified to take up this position. He knows the country, the Afghan people and the Afghan government. He knows the region: he has been the British Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan, which is clearly a very valuable background for his new position,” Rasmussen told reporters.

Sedwill will succeed Fernando Gentilini who served from May 2008 to January 2010.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has been attending the meeting of NATO’s Military Committee to discuss the Afghanistan operation.

All 28 NATO member states, 35 Chiefs of Defence of NATO Partner countries and Troop Contributing Nations are also attending the 2-day meeting which began here Tuesday.

“During the discussion, the NATO Secretary General and the visiting parliamentarians agreed that NATO Allies and Pakistan share common threats and common interests,” a NATO statement said.