Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 22: A scheduled meeting of the foreign ministers of the SAARC countries on the sidelines of the United Nations’ General Assembly in New York was cancelled after the member nations expressed inability to accept Pakistan’s demand for a seat for the Taliban representing Afghanistan.
The eight members of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) group included Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The foreign ministers’ meeting was scheduled to be held on Saturday.
Pakistan found itself isolated on the global stage after its attempt to generate support for the Taliban – which seized power in Afghanistan last month – demanding a seat for the militant group at the SAARC meeting. Also rejected was Pakistan’s demand Nepal – currently the SAARC chair – provide written assurances that Ghulam Isaczai, who represents Afghanistan’s ousted government at the United Nations, would not be allowed to attend.
Sources said the SAARC members could not reach a consensus on Pakistan’s request or give the Taliban guarantees it could attend the meet. As a result the meeting itself was called off. A senior Indian government functionary said Pakistan insisted the Taliban attend the meeting, but no other country had agreed to this demand.
The Taliban is not recognised by India as the representative of the Afghan people. The groups is also not recognised by many other countries with senior members of its new cabinet still blacklisted by the United Nations and on ‘wanted’ lists of the American agencies. Even Russia and China, which have promised help to the new Afghan regime, are yet to give recognition to the present Taliban government.
The new Taliban regime has “no authority,” the Indian government spokesman said and stressed the group could not, therefore, stake claim to speak on global platforms. Pakistan’s “mid-wife” role in support of the Taliban had left it exposed, the spokesman said.
The Taliban has also written to the UN Secretary-General asking for permission to address the 76th general assembly and has nominated Doha-based spokesperson Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan’s UN ambassador. But the move may only set up a showdown with Ghulam Isaczai since it was doubtful if the UN would give any such permission and accept the Taliban nominee as the legitimate representative of Afghanistan even before its government was recognized.
The UN acceptance of the Taliban would be an important step in the group’s bid for international recognition, which could help unlock funds needed by the cash strapped Afghan economy. The last time the Taliban was in power (1996-2001), the ambassador of the toppled Afghan government had remained the UN representative all through after decision over the Taliban’s claim was deferred.