No representative from Afghanistan will address the annual high-level UN General
Assembly in New York after the ambassador for the government was ousted by the
Taliban – who was due to speak on Monday – withdrew his name.
The move comes amid competing claims for Afghanistan’s UN seat in New York
after the Taliban seized power last month.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi last week asked to address the
gathering of world leaders at the United Nations and nominated the Islamist
group’s Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan’s UN ambassador.
Ghulam Isaczai is the current UN ambassador, who represents Afghanistan’s
government ousted by the Taliban, and has also asked to renew his accreditation.
He was scheduled to address the final day of the high-level UN gathering on
Monday, but withdrew late on Sunday, diplomats said.
Rival claims have also been made for Myanmar’s UN seat after a military coup in
February ousted the elected government. No representative from Myanmar will
address the high-level General Assembly meeting.
Until a decision is made by the credentials committee on both Afghanistan and
Myanmar, Isaczai, and Myanmar’s UN envoy representing the ousted government,
Moe Tun will remain in the seats, according to the General Assembly rules.
