The Taliban have appointed Suhail Shaheen, the former head of their political office in Qatar, as their new ambassador to Doha, as confirmed by Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban, in a message to Amu TV on Wednesday.
Mujahid did not provide further information about the future of the Taliban’s political office but announced that Mohammad Naeem, who has been serving as the acting ambassador in Qatar, will now take on the role of deputy ambassador.
These appointments come as the Taliban seek to gain international recognition. They have previously requested the United Nations and the Security Council to acknowledge Shaheen as Afghanistan’s permanent representative to the U.N., a request that has remained unanswered for three years.
Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have encountered significant obstacles in obtaining legitimacy from the international community, facing widespread criticism for their human rights record and their restrictive policies towards women and minorities. The recent diplomatic appointments seem to be part of their broader strategy to enhance their global standing.
As of now, Qatari officials and the United Nations have not commented on these new appointments.
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