Taliban Requests Speaking Slot at UN General Assembly
The Taliban sent a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres requesting a speaking opportunity at the UN General Assembly. The group has appointed Suhail Shaheen as its permanent representative to the United Nations. The UN is reviewing the Taliban’s letter.
A UN spokesperson announced on Tuesday, September 21 (September 30 in the Persian calendar), that a letter had been received from Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, in which the Taliban requested representation through a permanent representative at the international organization.
In the Taliban’s letter, it stated that Ashraf Ghani, the President of Afghanistan, was removed on August 15 and is no longer recognized by anyone in the world.
The letter specified that the mission of Ghulam Isaczai, Afghanistan’s former ambassador to the UN, has ended, and Muhammad Suhail Shaheen, the former spokesperson of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, is being introduced as the new ambassador.
Suhail Shaheen previously managed “Kabul Times,” the capital’s only English-language newspaper, during the Taliban’s previous rule. He also served as Afghanistan’s representative to the UN and as the head of the “Islamic Emirate” of Afghanistan’s embassy in Pakistan.
Farhan Haq, UN spokesperson, stated that after consulting with the office of the UN Secretary-General, the letter was forwarded to the “Credentials Committee” of the UN General Assembly.
It remains unclear who will speak on behalf of Afghanistan at the UN General Assembly.
The UN General Assembly session began on Tuesday, September 21 (September 30 in the Persian calendar). Heads of approximately 100 countries will participate in person at the week-long UN meeting.
Afghanistan is one of the important topics on the agenda of the UN General Assembly.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in mid-August amid the withdrawal of American forces and formed a transitional government.
No country has officially recognized the Taliban government so far, but many countries, including the United States, are negotiating with Taliban representatives.
Representatives of international human rights organizations have expressed concern about ongoing developments in Afghanistan.
Amnesty International stated on Tuesday, September 21 (September 30 in the Persian calendar), that the Taliban is responsible for severe human rights violations in Afghanistan.
Targeted killings of civilians, extrajudicial executions of surrendered soldiers, blocking of humanitarian aid to Panjshir Valley, trampling of women’s rights, and violations of freedom of expression are among the issues mentioned in Amnesty International’s report.
Amnesty International has also called on the UN Human Rights Council to establish an independent commission to collect and document evidence of human rights violations committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Source: DW
