Taliban had nominated their Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan's permanent representative to the UN.PHOTO: REUTERS
Reuters: EXCLUSIVE-Taliban names Afghan U.N. envoy, asks to speak to world leaders
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The Taliban have asked to address world leaders at the United Nations in New York this week and nominated their Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan's U.N. ambassador, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi made the request in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday.
Muttaqi asked to speak during the annual high-level meeting of the General Assembly, which finishes on Monday. Guterres' spokesperson, Farhan Haq, confirmed Muttaqi's letter.
The move sets up a showdown with Ghulam Isaczai, the U.N. ambassador in New York representing Afghanistan's government ousted last month by the Taliban.
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