The Taliban is Seeking to Address UN General Assembly

             In August, the Taliban seized control over Afghanistan. Weeks before the U.S. could fully withdraw from the nation after decades of war, the group managed to capture major cities in a matter of days. Following this complete takeover, Afghan civilians rushed to flee the country, many of which risked and even lost their lives from doing so. Seeing this situation unfold, many scholars and outsiders have asked the question of “what will happen to Afghanistan?”

Afghan civilians crowding a plane in an effort of fleeing their country. 

        On September 20, 2021, a letter written by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi made the request to U.N Secretary-General Guterres to allow them to address the U.N. world body. This request was made due to the Taliban’s inability to recognize their former Afghanistan U.N. Ambassador chair, Ghulam Isaczai, as a valid spokesperson for the country, since he was ousted by the Taliban on August 15. In replacement of Isaczai, the Taliban has nominated a Doha-based spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, to become the U.N Ambassador for the country.

            Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban nominatated spokesperson for the U.N. Ambassador Chair

        This rival request was confirmed to have been sent to the nine-member credentials committee to be processed. Yet, the committee is unlikely to meet upon this complication before Monday, which is the day that marks the end of the General Assembly. Until a solid decision is made, Isaczai will remain as the Ambassador chair for Afghanistan. In this scenario, it is marked as highly unlikely to go in favor of the Taliban since this request was made on such short notice.

        The Taliban is seeking to address the U.N. in order to gain international support and recognition in hopes of rebuilding its war-torn country. This poses a great dilemma due to the fact that the current makeup of the Taliban’s leadership is on the U.N.’s “blacklist” for international terrorism and funding of terrorism. Yet, some members can see the Taliban's recognition as an opportunity to urge this new ruling body in the guarantee of human rights, especially for women, who were prohibited from education and work in their previous rule.

        Signs are pointing to further confusion upon this problem. Questions remain as to "What will happen if the Taliban is globally recognized as a governing authority of Afghanistan? And if so, will a change be made in their radical ideas/beliefs?" Thus far, the international opinion of the Taliban organization is in objection to its oppressive rule. 

Sources:

https://globalnews.ca/news/8211347/afghanistan-taliban-united-nations/

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/exclusive-taliban-names-afghan-un-envoy-asks-speak-world-leaders-2021-09-21/

https://apnews.com/article/taliban-takeover-afghanistan-what-to-know-1a74c9cd866866f196c478aba21b60b6