Plans to install Paddy Ashdown as a new “super envoy” in Afghanistan were abandoned on Sunday after the former high representative to Bosnia pulled out of the race, saying he lacked support from the Afghan government.

The Afghan government said its preferred candidate was now General Sir John McColl, a British general who was the first commander of the International Security and Assistance Force – the Nato-led military coalition set up after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.