The United Nations has indefinitely postponed the international recognition of Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and Burma’s military junta.
A resolution adopted by consensus without a vote by the General Assembly on December 6 effectively held off any decision on recognition for at least the next 10 months.
A week ago, the Credentials Committee recommended to "defer its decision on the credentials pertaining to the representatives” of Burma and Afghanistan during the current General Assembly session, which ends in September 2022.
For Afghanistan and Burma, also known as Myanmar, there have been competing applications for accreditation at the UN from old and new regimes.
The Taliban government, which seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August, has not been recognized by any country or the UN.
Afghanistan's new rulers have come under intense international pressure over human rights violations and the lack of rights of women to education, employment, and participation in political and social life.
On September 14, Afghanistan's ambassador to the UN, Ghulam Isaczai, who had been appointed by ousted President Ashraf Ghani, submitted a request to remain at the world body.
The Taliban on September 20 asked the UN to accept Suhail Shaheen -- a former spokesman for the Islamist group -- as the country's new representative.
The Taliban assailed the UN committee for not confirming its chosen ambassador.
“The Credentials Committee decided yesterday that for now, the seat of Afghanistan at UN be not given to the new government in Afghanistan. This decision is not based on legal rules and justice because they have deprived the people of Afghanistan of their legitimate right," Shaheen wrote in a tweet.
Burma was rocked by a military coup on February 1.
Wunna Maung Lwin, the foreign minister of Burma, on August 18 appointed former military commander Aung Thurein as the UN envoy.
But Kyaw Moe Tun, who was appointed by deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, defied the military rulers by staying at his post. On August 21, he asked the UN to allow him to remain accredited.
AP quoted unnamed UN diplomats as saying the decision to delay the requests by Burma's junta and the Taliban had wide support because of the actions of the countries’ new rulers.