UN panel gives a mild jolt to Taliban and Myanmar’s military junta

Observers and UN officials say the Taliban’s keenness for recognition in the UN can be used as a bargaining tool by the international community to make the Taliban 'moderate' its stances, especially on human rights.

New Delhi: A key United Nations panel has decided to defer its decision on requests by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and Myanmar's military junta to take their countries' seats at the UN. 

The permanent representative of the 'democratically elected' erstwhile government of Afghanistan, Ghulam Isaczai, has received a sort of reprieve after the credentials committee of the UN failed to act on the Taliban request to recognise its representative. This appears as a clear setback to both the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the military junta in Myanmar.

Notably, Myanmar's military junta and its Foreign Minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, has said the previous 'permanent representative' Kyaw Moe Yun has been terminated, but the envoy (Kyaw) has asked for his UN accreditation to be 'renewed'.

Myanmar's military junta, as expected, is seeking to replace the ambassador to the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, who has steadfastly opposed the coup against Suu Kyi. Myanmar's military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in February.

The announcement from the UN Credentials' Committee means that ambassadors from the earlier governments of Myanmar and Afghanistan will remain in their positions. 

Sweden’s Permanent Representative Anna Karin Enstrom, who heads the committee, told reporters that it decided “to defer its decision of the credentials” of the two countries.

The United States, Russia, China, Bahamas, Bhutan, Chile, Namibia and Sierra Leone are other countries on the credentials committee.

The Taliban wants to replace the ambassador representing the former Afghan government, Ghulam Isaczai. Mohammad Suhail Shaheen, who served as a Taliban spokesman, has been nominated by the Taliban regime to the UN, but now the decision remains pending, so Ghulam Isaczai would continue.

In August, the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan and is now seeking international recognition. Even Taliban friendly countries such as China, Pakistan and Qatar are yet to give formal diplomatic recognition to the Taliban dispensation in Kabul.