Taliban Rejects Appointment Of UN Special Representative Following Doha Talks
Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Taliban's political office in Doha, has voiced opposition against the naming of a United Nations special representative for Afghanistan.
Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Taliban's political office in Doha, has voiced opposition against the naming of a United Nations special representative for Afghanistan.
Shaheen, in an interview with NHK, a Japanese broadcaster, emphasised that such a representative would meddle in Afghan affairs. He firmly declared the Taliban's refusal to acknowledge any special envoy from the UN.
Shaheen expressed concerns that the new envoy could enforce unwelcome decisions upon Afghanistan.
This stance is consistent with the Taliban's continued resistance to the appointment of a UN special representative to the country over the past few months.
Nonetheless, after the Doha conference, António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, conveyed in a press briefing, the immediate initiation of discussions for appointing a new UN special representative for Afghanistan.
Guterres noted the consideration of a plan for the UN special representative to devise a "sustainable framework" addressing Afghan-related issues.
Shaheen appealed to the global community for the recognition of the Taliban, asserting the faction's desire for normalised international relations.
Furthermore, the UN Secretary-General committed to organising a third meeting in Doha about Afghanistan's future, expressing optimism for the Taliban's involvement in the forthcoming dialogue.
