By Michelle Nichols and Daphne Psaledakis

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that international recognition of the Taliban was not currently under consideration.

Lavrov spoke on the sidelines at the U.N. General Assembly’s annual meeting of global leaders. He spoke after Afghanistan nominated an U.N. ambassador, setting off a fight over Afghanistan’s place at the international body.

Lavrov stated that “the question of international acceptance of the Taliban in the current juncture” was off the table.

Amir Khan Muttaqi (Taliban Foreign Minister) on Monday appointed Suhail Shaheen, a Doha-based spokesperson for the Islamist group, as Afghanistan’s U.N. representative. Last month, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.

Ghulam Isaczai is the U.N. ambassador representing the Taliban-removed Afghan government.

Russia has joined a nine member U.N credential committee, which along with China and America will handle the rival claims to Afghanistan’s U.N. chair later this year.

Antonio Guterres, U.N. Secretary General, stated that Taliban’s demand for international recognition was the sole leverage available to other countries in order for Afghanistan to have inclusive government and women’s rights.

The U.N.’s representative in Afghanistan was the Ambassador of the Taliban government, which ruled for the last time between 1996-2001. This happened after the Credentials committee delayed its decision regarding rival claims.