Taliban leaders have appointed an ambassador to the United Nations and have asked to address the world at the General Assembly session this week in New York, Reuters reported citing official documents.
The organization sent a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday, informing the U.N. of their nomination of Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan’s ambassador, Reuters said.
In the letter, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi asked to deliver a speech during this week’s high-profile meeting, the largest gathering of heads of state in the world. President Biden was among the first speakers Tuesday.
The letter addressed nine members of the group, including the United States. The General Assembly concludes Monday, which leaves little time for the committee to meet and decide on the petition.
After taking control of the Afghan government last month, the Taliban unseated the country’s former U.N. ambassador, Ghulam Isaczai, in New York. Although the former government official is scheduled to speak Monday, the Taliban’s letter contends “he no longer represents Afghanistan,” the outlet reported.
When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 1996, the former government’s U.N. ambassador remained in their seat.
The Taliban have vied for recognition by the world, hoping to shore up its government takeover with desperately needed funding eventually.
This year, amid the pandemic, access is severely restricted to the event. However, an estimated 100 leaders from the 193 nations plan to attend in person. Last year, leaders participated in a virtual conference.
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