Taliban demand address at UN conference

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The Taliban has asked for a speech at this week’s UN General Assembly in New York.

The group’s foreign minister wrote the request in a letter received by the commission on Monday. A United Nations panel will decide on the Taliban’s request.

The Taliban has also appointed Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan’s ambassador to the United Nations.

The group, which took control of Afghanistan last month, said the envoy did not represent the country.

The request to participate in the high-level debate is being considered by the recognition commission, which has nine members including the United States, China and Russia, according to a UN spokesman.

But they are unlikely to meet before the end of next General Assembly session next Monday. Until then, according to UN law, Ghulam Isaczai will remain Afghanistan’s ambassador to the international body.

He is expected to deliver a speech on the last day of the meeting on September 27th.

However the Taliban said its goal was “no longer representing Afghanistan”.

They also said several countries did not recognize former President Ashraf Ghani as Afghan leader