H.E. Mr. Youssof Ghafoorzai is a career diplomat with extensive expertise in multilateral diplomacy, foreign policy and conflict resolution.
He spent a significant part of his career working engaged in multilateral diplomacy, including several tenures at the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations in New York, where he served as Political Counselor from (2010-2014) and again from (2016-2019).
While in New York, he worked to garner the support of various organs and agencies of the United Nations for peace, stability, human rights and governance in Afghanistan.
He also had the lead role in negotiating numerous resolutions of both the UN General Assembly and Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan, including the United Nations Assistance Mission (UNAMA) mandate resolutions on the UN’s activities in the country. He also led activities in regards to work of the counter-terrorism and sanctions committees of the UN.
Ambassador Ghafoorzai has also held several postings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul, including as member of the UN and International Conferences Dept. and Senior Adviser on International Affairs to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Ghafoorzai has represented Afghanistan at various international forums and conferences, and bilateral visits related to peace, stability and development in Afghanistan and the wider region.
Throughout his career, Mr. Ghafoorzai has been a staunch advocate of strengthening international support for Afghanistan’s democratization, rehabilitation and development during the post-2001 period.
He took up his role as Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Norway in November 2019. He also serves as non-resident Ambassador of Afghanistan to Denmark and Iceland since 2019.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from the Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY) with an emphasis in International Relations and a minor in History.