Pak FM Calls For Revival Of SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group At Ministerial Summit

His remarks came at the conclusion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ summit held in China.

Lavrov said that nearly all SCO member states have strengthened bilateral relations with the Taliban, with the organisation maintaining a unified stance on the importance of an Afghanistan free from terrorism and drug trafficking.

He highlighted the necessity of providing effective support for Afghanistan’s reconstruction and long-term development as an independent, neutral, and peaceful state.

Russia has recently become one of the first major powers to formally recognise the Taliban regime. For the past four years, Moscow has consistently called on the Taliban to establish a more inclusive government.

Since returning to power, the Taliban has marginalised political and social groups, placing loyalists in key state positions. The group has accused former officials and ex-mujahideen leaders of cooperating with foreign forces, while continuing to assert that its government is inclusive.

In a statement posted on his official X account, Karzai pointed to Afghanistan's long history of forced displacement over the past four decades, including during the Soviet invasion, and highlighted concerns about a new wave of displacement currently emerging. He cautioned that compelling migrants to return amid Afghanistan’s ongoing internal crises could have dangerous consequences and create further instability.

Acknowledging the pressures faced by countries hosting large numbers of Afghan migrants, Karzai said that Afghans recognise the challenges associated with large-scale migration and understand the difficulties faced by host countries. However, he stressed that the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan has eliminated the conditions necessary for a safe return.

Karzai urged host governments, without naming specific nations, to reconsider decisions on mass deportations, taking into account Afghanistan’s internal challenges, including the continued closure of schools and universities for girls and the nation's severe economic crisis.

In recent months, neighbouring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan, have increased the forced repatriation of Afghan migrants. Human rights organisations have simultaneously expressed growing concern over the legal, economic, and security risks facing returnees.

Speaking during a visit to the Islam Qala border crossing, Otunbayeva said the situation unfolding at Afghanistan’s frontiers is a direct result of the international community’s failure to uphold its responsibilities.

Otunbayeva urged the launch of a regional dialogue with countries such as Iran, Pakistan and the Central Asian republics to prevent further uncoordinated deportations. She underscored the importance of adhering to the principle of “voluntary, dignified and safe” repatriation.

According to the United Nations, more than 1.3 million Afghans have returned since the start of 2024, placing overwhelming pressure on impoverished local communities. Women and children, among the most vulnerable, face limited access to essential services, alongside significant economic hardship.

Otunbayeva warned that humanitarian operations in Afghanistan are facing critical funding shortages, forcing aid agencies to make difficult decisions between offering food, shelter or safe return support.

She called on donor nations and international organisations to accept shared responsibility for the crisis. “What we are witnessing are the direct consequences of unmet global responsibilities,” she said. “We must act now—with resources, with coordination, and with resolve.”

Otunbayeva stressed that Afghanistan’s stability depends on the active engagement of the global community, warning that indifference is not an option. “The cost of inaction will be measured in lives lost and conflicts reignited,” she said.

Her remarks come as Iran resumes large-scale deportations of Afghan migrants, following a recent ceasefire with Israel. Border crossings in Afghanistan’s Herat and Nimruz provinces have seen a dramatic surge in returnees, intensifying humanitarian concerns.

The two ministers last met on 22 June during the 51st session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul.

The upcoming visit comes amid an apparent shift in regional diplomacy, with the Taliban recently upgrading its diplomatic representation in Pakistan from chargé d'affaires to ambassador. The appointment followed a trilateral meeting in Beijing between the foreign ministers of the Taliban, China, and Pakistan.

Despite these diplomatic engagements, tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban remain high. Over recent years, border forces from both sides have clashed multiple times at key crossings including Torkham, Dand-e-Patan, and Spin Boldak.

Pakistan has also launched two airstrikes on Afghan territory, sparking strong condemnation from the Taliban.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban of providing safe haven to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and Baloch separatists, allegedly with Indian support. The Taliban, meanwhile, has countered by accusing Pakistan of aiding Islamic State (ISIS) operatives active in the region.

In a meeting held on Monday, Sharie stated that the Taliban government has drafted dozens of laws based on “the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Prophet,” citing widely recognised sources of Islamic jurisprudence.

According to a statement issued by the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice, the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Afghanistan and Indonesia, enhancing cooperation, and discussing recent legal developments in the country.

The Justice Minister also emphasised the importance of unity among Muslim nations, stating that Islamic countries should maintain such close cooperation that “they act as though they are one nation.”

While Sharie underscored Islam as the foundation of the Taliban’s legal system, critics argue that the group’s implementation of Sharia has resulted in severe restrictions on civil liberties particularly for women and girls.

Despite Islamic teachings that encourage education for both sexes, the Taliban has continued to bar Afghan girls from secondary schools and universities since regaining power in 2021. The group has also imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s rights, including bans on employment in most sectors, limitations on movement, and exclusion from public life.

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has not formally recognised the Taliban administration but continues to engage in diplomatic dialogue.