Sep 21, 2021 - World
UN: Taliban nominate new envoy, ask to speak at General Assembly meeting
Afghanistan's current UN ambassador Ghulam Isaczai. Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
The United Nations said Tuesday that the Taliban asked to speak at the United Nations General Assembly's meeting this week, AP reports.
Why it matters: The move marks a direct challenge to Afghanistan's currently accredited UN ambassador, Ghulam Isaczai, whom the Taliban said no longer represented Afghanistan.
- The militant group has instead nominated a new permanent representative, Mohammad Suhail Shaheen, a UN spokesperson told the AP.
- Isaczai, a remainder of the ousted government, had asked to remain in the country's UN's seat in New York.
What to watch: When a UN seat is disputed, the General Assembly's nine-member Credentials Committee is tasked with making a decision.
- The committee has not yet scheduled a meeting to discuss the conflict, though communications from both Isaczai and the Taliban have been forwarded.
- Afghanistan is set to give the last speech on the final day of the General Assembly meeting on Sept. 27.
Go deeper: UN Security Council extends Afghan mission by six months