Taliban calls for UN voice

NEW YORK: The Taliban’s new foreign minister has asked to address world leaders at this week’s UN General Assembly meeting in New York, a UN spokesman said.

The ambassador of the Afghan government ousted by the Taliban has also requested to speak, with the UN yet to decide who will represent the country at the world body.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres received a letter from Taliban-appointed Amir Khan Muttaqi “requesting to participate” in the debate.

The letter did not specify whether Mr Muttaqi wanted to travel to New York, or whether the Taliban would submit a recorded video message.