Afghanistan’s UN Envoy: Taliban Denied Legal Legitimacy in Latest UN Mission Draft
Nasir Ahmad Andisha, Afghanistan’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, has announced that in the latest draft to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the phrase “de facto rulers of Afghanistan” referring to the Taliban has been removed and replaced with “relevant authorities.” According to him, this change was made at the suggestion of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
Previously, the UN Security Council’s official documents referred to the Taliban as the “de facto rulers of Afghanistan,” a term many observers believed could pave the way for the group’s gradual legal legitimacy. Andisha stated that replacing this phrase with “relevant authorities” deprived the Taliban of the process of gaining the legal legitimacy they seek.
On Monday, June 15, Andisha wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account that although this might seem like a minor change, in international law, words are directly linked to concepts of sovereignty and formal recognition. He added that the international community is gradually and legally altering its approach in dealing with “unlawful regimes.”
The Afghan envoy in Geneva also referred to the situation in Myanmar, noting that during its 62nd session, the UN Human Rights Council maintained the ban on seating representatives from Myanmar’s military government. He added that the Taliban administration and Myanmar’s military are employing a method some analysts call “hostage diplomacy.”
Andisha emphasized that for years, the main argument for engaging with such regimes was “pragmatism,” meaning since these groups control the capital and weapons, they must be treated like a government. According to him, recent developments at the United Nations show the global community is beginning to separate territorial control from diplomatic recognition.
He also called on the European Union to reconsider its diplomatic approach towards the Taliban administration. This appeal comes as the European Commission invited Taliban officials for technical talks in Brussels concerning the repatriation of Afghan migrants without legal residence in Europe.
Inviting Taliban officials for such discussions has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and Afghan activists, who warn that any engagement without considering human rights conditions and political legitimacy risks gradually normalizing the Taliban administration.
