The Taliban has asked to speak to world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.
The terror group nominated Suhail Shaheen, their spokesman based in Doha, as Afghanistan’s new ambassador to the UN.
The Islamists said the envoy for the former government no longer represented Afghanistan.
The group, which seized control of Afghanistan last month, said the envoy for the ousted government no longer represented the country.
The request to participate in the high-level debate is being considered by a credentials committee, whose nine members include the US, China and Russia, according to a UN spokesperson.
But they are unlikely to meet before the end of the General Assembly session next Monday. Until then, under UN rules, Ghulam Isaczai will remain Afghanistan’s ambassador to the global body.
At the UN meeting on Tuesday, Qatar urged world leaders to stay engaged with the Taliban.
“Boycotting them would only lead to polarisation and reactions, whereas dialogue could be fruitful,” said Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Qatar has become a key broker in Afghanistan. It hosted talks between the Taliban and US which culminated in a 2020 agreement to withdraw US-led Nato forces.
Discussion about this post