David Loyn

David Loyn is an author, journalist and analyst who specialises in Afghanistan, South Asia and imperial history. He is on an advisory panel to the FCDO on South Asia policy, and co-convenor of a mid-career course for diplomats for the FCDO International Academy on South Asia and Afghanistan. He is a visiting senior fellow in the War Studies Department at King’s College, London, and writes regularly on Afghanistan for the Spectator.

As a BBC correspondent for more than three decades, David won awards in both Radio and Television reporting, including Journalist of the Year from the Royal Television Society for his reporting of the Kosovo conflict in 1998. His book Frontline was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. His last BBC posting was as correspondent in Afghanistan, a country he has been visiting since 1994, including several trips during Taliban control.

From 2017-2018 David worked as Strategic Communications adviser in the office of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. He holds an MA in Modern History from Oxford University, and is a qualified barrister.

David is a board member of Peace Direct, and an Associate of the Imperial War Museum.