Embassy of the United States Kabul, Afghanistan

The Embassy’s Political Section is a key component of the State Department’s presence in Afghanistan. Our responsibilities include reporting on the full range of political issues between the United States and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

The Political Section interacts with the Afghan government on bilateral and international political issues, elections, parliament, rule of law, promotion of democracy, human rights, freedom of the press, religious freedom, labor and refugees. We also engage with civil society groups, political parties, women’s organizations and humanitarian NGOs. In all of these areas, we work closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID’s assistance program in Afghanistan is one of their most extensive worldwide.

The Political Section has officers whose primary responsibility is to report on human rights abuses in Afghanistan and to promote U.S. values concerning the protection of human rights. Other officers in the Section report on issues concerning refugees. The Political Section also manages the Afghan Women’s Empowerment (AWE) Grants Program, designed to increase women’s participation in political life.

Our goals with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan include the following:

• Encouragement of government policies conducive to a healthy democracy
• Encouragement of Afghanistan’s democratic processes, including elections
• Encouragement of Afghanistan’s legal and judiciary structures and support for due processes under Afghanistan’s and international law
• Encouragement of civil society groups and independent political parties
• Improvements in Afghanistan’s human rights

Documents and Web Sites

• U.S. Department of State, Afghanistan Country Page
• Background Notes, Afghanistan
• Human Rights Report
• International Religious Freedom Report
• Afghan Women’s Empowerment (AWE) Grants Program

Key Afghan Government Websites

• Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C.
• Office of the President, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Hajj and Islamic Affairs
• Ministry of Justice
•  Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and the Disabled
• Ministry of Women’s Affairs
• Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (web site under development)

Contact Us
Telephone: [93] (0)700-108-001
Fax: NONE – Please scan and e-mail any necessary documents to us.
Kabul is 9½ hours ahead of EST; 8½ hours ahead of EDT.

Mailing Address:     
Counselor for Political Affairs
Political Section
U.S. Embassy
APO, AE  09806 (USA)

Local Address in Kabul:
Great Massoud Road
Wazir Akbar Khan (neighborhood)
Kabul
Afghanistan