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OPINION, INTERVIEWS & FEATURES
Adrian’s first posting abroad was in Kabul in 2002, in the immediate aftermath of the Taliban collapse. His main concern was the re-establishing of the British Embassy, as well as reporting on the situation on the ground. In many ways, Kabul was a lot safer in 2002 than it is in the present day, as there was still a large military presence, as well as a curfew. While in Afghanistan, Adrian observed the creation of the government, ‘Loya Jirga’ (Grand Assembly – a convention of elders and learned individuals), and of the constitution. This was achieved with little external interference from the international community. To help with the reconstruction effort, the Foreign Office also organised aid and provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) in places such as Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif. We then discussed Adrian’s next posting, in New York, which followed on directly from his time in Afghanistan. Three years were spent in New York (2002–2005) in the aftermath of the horrific events of 9/11, when 2,996 people had died, including numerous British citizens. Before Adrian arrived, the Consulate in New York was heavily involved in trying to account for missing British nationals. Unsurprisingly, the focus of diplomacy shifted following 9/11. From September 2002, all eyes were turned to Iraq. The invasion took place in March 2003. Discussions being held in the UN involved the deployment of the weapons inspectors on the ground. This was a fascinating point in recent history, with the invasion being deemed illegal according to the UN, and with the later revelation that there were, in fact, no weapons of mass destruction. I asked what impact these facts had had on the Foreign Office and its dealings. Mr Pisa replied that in some cases people did resign or withdraw themselves from the assignment. He went on to say that circumstances such as the invasion of Iraq were infrequent in foreign affairs and no precedent existed for dealing with the situation. However, when I pressed him on this point, he offered little further, other than stating that he himself did not consider withdrawing from the assignment. I am not entirely sure what I expected him to say, but I suppose I was unsurprised at the brevity of his response. After all, the legality of this invasion (war) is still in question and there has been no satisfactory conclusion.
In light of his previous experience in Kabul, I asked Adrian about the events that took place over the summer 2021, during which time we all watched in shock as the Taliban re-captured Afghanistan. I wanted to know how fruitful he felt foreign intervention had been, given the current state of play in the region. To this, he responded that the initial intention had been to stop Al-Qaeda and to ensure it could never again use Afghanistan as a base for international terrorism; from that narrow perspective, I suppose, intervention was successful. Looking to the future, I wanted to know if there was any prospect for further intervention in the region and if so, whether there was a template or any criteria that first needed fulfilment. His response avoided touching directly upon the matter of any criteria required to ratify intervention, but he said international law did provide guidance for armed intervention. For in reality the situation on the ground is always so dynamic that it is difficult to adhere to any fixed procedures. This statement is clearly substantiated by the evacuation efforts seen in the final days before the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan on 31August 2021. I am very thankful to Adrian for giving up his valuable time to speak with me. Our conversation was an interesting glimpse into the complex nature of foreign affairs and their far-reaching implications.
An interesting, yet little understood, profession “
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