Topline
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan's former government just weeks ago and now the group wants to be a part of the United Nations Annual General Assembly. This is in an effort to gain international recognition.
Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban negotiator, attends a Moscow press conference on July 9, 2021. AFP via Getty Images
The Key Facts
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres was sent Monday a letter purporting to come from the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan. This is the Taliban's official name for their government. Farhan Haq, Guterres spokesperson, confirmed this to Forbes. The group requested to be a part of the 76th session U.N. General Assembly. This annual meeting of world leaders is held in New York City and opens this week. It will close Monday. According to Haq, the letter stated that the Taliban spokesperson Souhail Shaheen should be replaced as the permanent representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, expressed interest in recognition Tuesday. He claimed that it was the responsibility of United Nations to recognize our government and allow other countries to establish diplomatic relations with us. Reuters reported the Talibans request to U.N. Tuesday for their recognition.
What to Watch
It is not known if the U.N. will review the Taliban's request before this year's session ends. Forbes reported that the U.N. General Assemblys Credentials Committee was assigned to handle the Talibans request. However, the group, which includes six U.N. members, including the United States of America, China, Russia, and six other countries, has not scheduled any meetings yet.
Important Background
Over the summer, the Taliban took power in Afghanistan. The U.S. military had withdrawn its troops from Afghanistan. By mid-August, they were in Kabul, their first entry since 2001, when the United States began its war in Afghanistan. The Taliban claim they want diplomatic relations with the rest the world. They have publicly pledged to respect women, give amnesty for Afghans who served under the previous government, and allow Afghans to leave Afghanistan. Reports have surfaced that Taliban operatives are preventing women from school and work, imposing harsh punishments, and looking for their enemies. This is in keeping with the brutal, fundamentalist style of governance that was imposed by the Taliban during its reign of Afghanistan 1996-2000. This month, the Taliban received rebukes for creating a cabinet that was largely composed of Taliban operatives, including a leader from the Haqqani Network (a U.S.-designated terrorist organization). The Taliban claimed on Tuesday that it would eventually include women in its cabinet. However, they didn't say when.
Tangent
Although foreign governments have not yet recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate rulers, officials from Qatar and Pakistan met with them in Afghanistan earlier in the month. The U.S. military also spoke with the Taliban during the frantic evacuation from Kabuls international airstrip in August. According to the Associated Press, Pakistan's foreign minister stated Monday that he does not believe anyone is in a hurry to recognize the Taliban at this stage. This despite the fact that Pakistan had recognized the Taliban in its first term in power, and has been accused of supporting it since.
