Afghanistan, under the rule of the Taliban, has challenged the credentials of its country's former ambassadors to the United Nations. In a letter submitted to the intergovernmental organization, the Taliban had also requested to speak at the General Assembly's meeting with world leaders this week.
According to sources familiar with the matter, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has received a letter from the current Afghanistan ambassador, Ghulam Isaczai, which listed the names of the people that will be attending the 76th annual session.
Over the weekend another letter was sent, this time from the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs." The letter, which was signed by Afghanistan's new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ameer Khan Muttaqi, listed another set of delegates that the country wants to participate in the gathering.
Muttaqi said that Isaczai no longer represented the Afghanistan government as the former Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, had already been ousted. He added that Ghani was no longer recognized as Afghanistan's president, which means officials under him also no longer represent the country.
The letter said that the Taliban have already nominated a representative for the country in the UN, Mohammad Suhail Shaheen - who previously acted as the spokesman for the group during their negotiations with Qatar.
The U.S. State Department said they were aware of the letters but the decision would be up to the UN credentials committee, of which the U.S. is a member. State Department officials said it would likely "take some time to deliberate" on the issue, which means that the Taliban delegation is unlikely to speak at the General Assembly this year.
Afghanistan is scheduled to give a speech on the final day of the General Assembly meeting on Sept. 27. Given the conflict, it is not yet clear who would be allowed to speak at the meeting. When the Taliban took over the country in 1996, the UN had refused to recognize their rule. The country's UN seat was given to a representative nominated by the government of President Burhanuddin Rabbani.
The credentials committee is responsible for resolving disputes over seats at the organization. The committee has reportedly received copies of both letters. The committee is comprised of the U.S., Russia, China, Sweden, Bahamas, Bhutan, Chile, Namibia, and Sierra Leone.
