Suhail Shaheen

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Suhail Shaheen
Suhail Shaheen (2019).jpg
Shaheen in 2019
Born
Muhammad Suhail Shaheen

Paktia Province, Afghanistan
Alma materInternational Islamic University, Islamabad
Kabul University
Political partyAfghanistan Taliban

Muhammad Suhail Shaheen (Pashto/Dari: محمد سهیل شاهین, Pashto pronunciation: [mʊˈhamad sʊˈhel ʃaˈhin], Dari pronunciation: [mʊˈhammad sʊˈheːl ʃaˈhiːn]) is a Taliban member who currently serves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's official spokesman at their Qatar office.[1][2][3][4] He edited the English-language, state-owned Afghan newspaper The Kabul Times during the first Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001), before being appointed to Afghanistan's Embassy in Pakistan as a deputy ambassador.[5]

On 20 September 2021, the Taliban-led government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan nominated him to become Afghanistan's official envoy to the United Nations. However, , the ambassador of the now-ousted government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, will retain his seat as the official Afghan representative to the United Nations, unless the United Nations Credentials Committee accepts Shaheen's appointment.[6]

Early life[]

Suhail Shaheen (far right) meeting US representative Zalmay Khalilzad (2nd left) and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (4th left), accompanying Abdul Ghani Baradar and Abdul Hakim Ishaqzai (5th and 6th left)

Suhail was born in the Paktia Province of Afghanistan.[5] He was educated in Pakistan, and he is known to be a prolific writer and fluent speaker of English and Urdu in addition to his native Pashto.[7] Suhail studied at the International Islamic University Islamabad[8] and Kabul University.[7]

Career[]

During the period of the Taliban's original Islamic Emirate (1996–2001), Sohail served as Afghanistan's Deputy Ambassador at the Afghan Embassy in Pakistan.[7] During the later phase of the Taliban's insurgency (2013–2021), he served as one of the Taliban's official spokesmen at their political office in Doha, where he gave many interviews to international media channels.[9]

On 20 September 2021, a month after the Taliban's total takeover of Afghanistan, Suhail was nominated by the Afghan Taliban government to become Afghanistan's ambassador to the United Nations.[6]

In October 2021, Shaheen rejected American help in fighting the Islamic State – Khorasan Province, saying, "We are able to tackle Daesh independently."[10]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Afghanistan: All foreign troops must leave by deadline - Taliban". BBC News. 5 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Taliban says has right to react if US troops stay in Afghanistan - Conflict News". Al Jazeera. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Won't target any embassy or diplomat in Afghanistan: Suhail Shaheen Taliban Spokesperson". The Economic Times. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. ^ Mir, Hamid (28 July 2021). "The Taliban is playing a double game". Washington Post. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Database". www.afghan-bios.info. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b Nichols, Michelle (21 September 2021). Milliken, Mary; McCool, Grant (eds.). "Exclusive: Taliban names Afghan U.N. envoy, asks to speak to world leaders". Reuters. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Suhail Shaheen". Conciliation Resources. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Database". www.afghan-bios.info.
  9. ^ "Meet Suhail Shaheen: Taliban's 'soft-spoken, calm' spokesperson named as UN envoy". Firstpost. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Taliban say they won't work with US to contain Islamic State". PBS NewsHour. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

External links[]

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