Daily US Times: The Taliban have asked to address at the United Nations General Assembly this week in New York City.

Taliban’s foreign minister made the request in a letter on Monday and a UN committee will rule on the request.

The group also nominated Suhail Shaheen, their Doha-based spokesperson, as Afghanistan’s UN ambassador.

The group, which took power in Afghanistan last month, said the envoy for the ousted government no longer represented the country.

The request to participate at the UNGA is being considered by a credentials committee, whose nine members include the US, Russia and China, according to a UN spokesperson.

But they are unlikely to meet before the end of the assembly session next Monday. Under UN rules, Ghulam Isaczai will remain Afghanistan’s ambassador to the global body until then.

Mr Isaczai is expected to make a speech on the final day of the General Assembly on 27 September. However the Taliban said Isaczai’s mission “no longer represents Afghanistan”.

The Islamists militant group also said that several countries no longer recognised former President Ashraf Ghani as leader.

Mr Ghani abruptly left Afghanistan as Taliban fighters advanced on the capital, Kabul, on 15 August. Ghani has since taken refuge in the United Arab Emirates.

At the UN meeting on Tuesday, Qatar urged global leaders to stay engaged with the Taliban.

Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said: “Boycotting them would only lead to polarisation and reactions, whereas dialogue could be fruitful.”

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