Pakistan Says U.N. Envoy of Previous Afghan Authorities Ought to Vacate Seat

Pakistan’s overseas minister mentioned Friday that the United Nations ambassador from Afghanistan’s toppled authorities had no standing and that its seat on the 193-member group ought to stay vacant for now.

Whereas not endorsing the Taliban’s request for U.N. illustration, the Pakistan overseas minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, mentioned in an interview with The New York Occasions that he had seen indications of improved stability in Afghanistan for the reason that American withdrawal practically a month in the past after 20 years of struggle and occupation.

He additional mentioned that, to his shock, there had been no signal of a feared descent into civil struggle in Afghanistan over the Taliban’s victory — no less than not but. Nor had Pakistan seen an inflow of Afghanistan residents surge throughout the border, he mentioned, whereas providing the reminder that Pakistan already homes thousands and thousands of refugees from the protracted upheaval in its western neighbor. “We shouldn’t have the capability to soak up extra,” he mentioned.

Though Pakistan has erected a safety fence alongside the porous frontier with Afghanistan, Mr. Qureshi mentioned, “the border is open in the intervening time,” and that “due to that improved scenario, folks have began to maneuver again.”

Nonetheless, Mr. Qureshi allowed for the chance {that a} humanitarian and financial collapse in Afghanistan remained an actual risk.

Mr. Qureshi, who has been attending the United Nations Basic Meeting this week, spoke with The Occasions, not simply in regards to the disaster in neighboring Afghanistan but in addition in regards to the American relationship together with his personal nation.

Although American and Afghan officers have accused Pakistan of serving to the Taliban insurgency, Mr. Qureshi described Pakistan as a “supportive ally” of the USA — each in the course of the U.S.-led struggle in Afghanistan and the abrupt American pullout. Any notion that Pakistan had labored towards the USA, Mr. Qureshi mentioned, was misinformed.

Mr. Qureshi spoke as a diplomatic drama was intensifying over who, if anybody, would communicate for Afghanistan on the weeklong schedule of annual speeches on the Basic Meeting, which concludes on Monday. The final slot on the roster is at the moment reserved for Afghanistan.

The ambassador of the toppled authorities, Ghulam M. Isaczai, stays the formally acknowledged envoy of Afghanistan on the United Nations. However the Taliban have requested that Suhail Shaheen, the militant motion’s spokesman in Doha, Qatar, substitute Mr. Isaczai and be permitted to talk on the Basic Meeting.

Mr. Qureshi mentioned it remained to be seen whether or not the Taliban’s request was justified. However he additionally mentioned Mr. Isaczai’s proper to symbolize Afghanistan on the United Nations was not defensible as a result of his authorities had collapsed and its president, Ashraf Ghani, had fled overseas.

“Who’s he talking for?” Mr. Qureshi requested about Mr. Isaczai. The perfect short-term answer for Afghanistan’s U.N. seat, Mr. Qureshi mentioned, is “maintain it empty.”

He additionally dismissed the concept of even speaking to Mr. Isaczai. “What good would it not do?” he mentioned. “To me he’s of no use.”

Mr. Isaczai, who has stored a comparatively low profile in current weeks, didn’t instantly reply to messages searching for remark.

Requested who could be talking for Afghanistan on Monday, Stéphane Dujarric, the chief U.N. spokesman, mentioned in an emailed message that “as for now, the Afghanistan consultant inscribed on the checklist for Monday is H.E. Mr. Ghulam M. Isaczai.”

The query over who needs to be Afghanistan’s rightful consultant on the United Nations is to be taken up by the Basic Meeting’s Credentials Committee, a nine-member group that features China, Russia and the USA. It isn’t anticipated to deal with the query till October or later.

Whereas Pakistan just isn’t on the committee, Mr. Qureshi’s views on the matter are essential as a result of his nation is considered one of Afghanistan’s most influential neighbors, with vital influence on its trajectory underneath Taliban management.

The U.N. Safety Council, probably the most highly effective physique within the group, has mentioned that the Taliban should type an inclusive authorities, defend the rights of girls, ladies and minorities, stop terrorist teams from utilizing Afghanistan as a base, enable the free stream of humanitarian support and allow the exit of all who want to go away.

Mr. Qureshi mentioned Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers “are usually not unaware” of the worldwide group’s expectations regarding their normal of conduct.

“Clearly they’ll be judged,” he mentioned. “I feel they’re starting to grasp.”