The Taliban has named its UN envoy and wants to address the United Nations General Assembly.

Taliban has requested to address the UN General Assembly, citing that the existing ambassador no longer represents Afghanistan.

Taliban has requested to address the UN General Assembly, citing that the existing ambassador no longer represents Afghanistan. Taliban has seized control over Afghanistan and announced the formation of an interim government. But the United States and other western countries have not recognized the government and have raised questions over the legitimacy of the Taliban.

The Taliban are eager for international recognition, which could unlock assistance from the U.N. and other bodies to help build the war-torn nation. As a measure, the Taliban has sent a formal request to the U.N. asking its representative to speak at the general assembly in New York. The group has nominated their Doha-based spokesman Mohammad Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan's U.N. ambassador.

The request has been sent to a nine-member credentials committee, but it is unclear if the committee can decide before the session ends. Afghanistan is scheduled to speak on the final day of the session on 27 September.