Afghanistan's Taliban Repeats Call For UN To Recognize Its Ambassador

The unrecognized Taliban government in Afghanistan has again called on the United Nations to recognize its nominee to head the country's representation at the international body.

The Taliban nominee, Suhail Shaheen, posted on Twitter on December 17 that Afghanistan's seat should be given to the nominee of the new government.

"UN is an august world body and its credibility lies in its neutrality," Shaheen wrote. "I request it to prove its neutrality by giving the seat of Afghanistan at the UN to the current government of Afghanistan…."

Earlier this month, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution postponing a decision on the matter of recognizing an Afghan ambassador. The UN seat and some other representations abroad have become bones of contention between the Taliban and exiled representatives of the former government.

The Taliban call came one day after the Afghan UN mission issued a statement saying that Naseer Ahmad Faiq had "assumed the leadership of the Mission in the capacity of Charge d'Affaires."

Faiq previously served as deputy to the ambassador of Afghanistan's deposed government, Ghulam Isaczai, who "relinquished his position as of December 15," a UN spokesman told the AFP news agency.

The mission's statement said it "will continue its efforts to work closely with all Member States and UN authorities to address the ongoing dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and to ensure the fundamental human rights of all Afghans, including women, girls, and ethnic minorities."

The Taliban took over the country in August, shortly after the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan. No country has yet recognized the Islamist Taliban government.

When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, they were not represented in the United Nations and only Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan recognized them.

With reporting by AFP, TOLO, and United News of India