Pak FM Calls For Revival Of SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group At Ministerial Summit
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called for the revival of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Contact Group on Afghanistan.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called for the revival of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Contact Group on Afghanistan.
He has emphasised that sustainable peace and stability in the country remains a shared objective for all member states.
Speaking at the SCO foreign ministers’ conference in China on Tuesday, Dar said that reactivating the contact group could provide a practical platform for results-oriented cooperation to support Afghanistan’s path to peace and development.
The SCO initially established the Contact Group in 2005 to deepen engagement in Afghan affairs, with several rounds of meetings held in China, Russia, and other member states. However, its activities have remained suspended for several years.
In 2018, SCO leaders again underscored the importance of resuming the group’s work. Since the Taliban’s return to power, however, Afghanistan’s participation in the SCO and other international mechanisms has been suspended.
Afghanistan had engaged with the SCO as a guest since 2004 and was granted observer status in 2012. Its involvement aimed to foster regional trust, strengthen cooperation with member and observer states, and build capacity to combat terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking.
Addressing broader security concerns, Dar warned that terrorism continues to threaten global peace. He condemned all forms of terrorism, including state-sponsored violence, and urged countries to refrain from using terrorism to pursue political ends. He called for a cooperative and comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of extremism.
Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, noted that as the global order faces increasing instability, the SCO has emerged as a stabilising force. He praised the organisation’s inclusive approach, rooted in sovereign equality and the peaceful resolution of disputes, offering a constructive alternative to confrontation and zero-sum rivalries.
He concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful and stable relations with all its neighbours.
