SCO To Hold Consultative Meeting On Afghanistan In Tajikistan
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will hold a consultative meeting on Afghanistan on 11–12 September in Dushanbe, the group’s secretary-general said.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will hold a consultative meeting on Afghanistan on 11–12 September in Dushanbe, the group’s secretary-general said.
Nurlan Yermekbayev told Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti that the talks would include a broad exchange of views on Afghanistan’s current situation and its impact on the region. Security engagement between SCO members and the Taliban authorities will also be on the agenda, he said.
Yermekbayev added that Afghanistan continues to face social and humanitarian challenges, including women’s rights and terrorism, though its economy has shown some signs of improvement. He said SCO members share a consensus on the nature of Afghanistan’s problems and the organisation is closely monitoring developments.
His remarks followed warnings from Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, who said more than 23,000 foreign militants are active in Afghanistan and pose a significant threat to regional security.
Yermekbayev noted that despite these challenges, all SCO member states continue to maintain bilateral engagement with the Taliban. He recalled that in the SCO leaders’ declaration of 4 July 2024, members stressed that forming an inclusive government representing all ethnic and political groups in Afghanistan was the only path to lasting peace and stability.
The SCO, founded in 2001, includes Russia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan and Belarus as full members. Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status, while dialogue partners include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Sri Lanka.
Yermekbayev’s comments come ahead of the SCO leaders’ summit scheduled for 31 August to 1 September in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin. The Taliban are not among the invitees.
