Taliban writes to UN, asks to speak at General Assembly in New York

The Taliban, which now rules Afghanistan, has written to United Nations Secretary General – António Guterres, submitting name of the envoy it nominated to represent the country at the UN. 

The letter stated that the Taliban’s choice of UN ambassador was Suhail Shaheen, the movement’s spokesman based in Doha, Qatar. 

Taliban’s nomination has set up a showdown with the envoy of Afghanistan’s toppled government, Ghulam Isaczai, who has so far retained his post. 

The Taliban, which seized control of Afghanistan last month, said the envoy for the ousted government no longer represented the country. 

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The letter was signed by Amir Khan Muttaqi, identified as the foreign minister of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. 

The letter further stated that Amir Khan Muttaqi wanted to speak at the General Assembly, which got underway on Tuesday and ends next Monday. 

According to a UN spokesperson, Taliban’s request to participate in the debate is being considered by a credentials committee, whose nine members include the US, China and Russia. 

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.