Afghanistan, Pakistan envoys trade barbs at UNSC

KABUL (Pajhwok): At the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Tuesday, Afghanistan’s representative Naseer Ahmad Fiaq accused Pakistan of double standard and the Pakistani representative, Munir Akram, questioned his credentials.

Afghanistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ghulam Mohammad Ishaqzai, resigned from his post in December 2021 and was replaced by Nasir Ahmad Faiq - who worked in the Office of the Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations.

However, the caretaker government introduced Mohammad Sohail Shaheen to the seat, but he was not accepted.

Shaheen at that time said: “According to the principles, Afghanistan's seat in the UN is the right of the current acting government of Afghanistan, which has control over the entire territory of Afghanistan, this seat should be handed over to the current representative of the Islamic Emirate, not to someone who has neither government nor sovereignty in this land. Not handing over this seat is against the principals; the United Nations should resolve this issue according to principles and not prolong the existing conflict,” Shaheen had said.

A video clip shared on social media shows that Nasir Ahmad Faiq and Munir Akran exchange serious criticisms at the UNSC session.

Munir Akram criticized the Security Council for inviting Faiq to attend the meeting, saying he represented no government.

He said: “I do not want to clarify the statement of this gentleman (Faiq) who claims to be the representative of Afghanistan. I think his credentials are questionable, he has no government, it is abnormally that the Security Council is obliged to invite him and to breed a kind of hatred and disinformation to the Security Council. I believe that the General Assembly should take notice of this situation.”

In reply to Akram’s statement, Nasir Ahmad Faiq said: “I am representing Afghanistan in the UNSC session and speaking the anguish and misery of the people of Afghanistan who suffered from the interference of countries that play double game”.

Faiq said Pakistan claims to be victim of “terrorism,” but it supports “militant groups” in Afghanistan.

The VoA reported that the two traded barbs at a time when Akram mentioned developments in the last two years and problems in Afghanistan.

Akram said the international community must respond to the priorities of Afghanistan’s caretaker government and the people.

Akram suggested removal of sanctions imposed on officials of the acting government of Afghanistan, saying the acting government must be recognized and should be granted the right to have its representative in the UN.

Pajhwok tried to contact Faiq about the verbal dispute, but a contact with him could not be established.

Faiq told a private media outlet that Akram’s remarks were unprofessional and he insulted himself.

aw/ma