The Taliban, a group currently banned in Russia, expressed interest in attending the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit to be held in Kazakhstan. The statement came from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was reported by Interfax. It signals Kabul’s openness to engaging with SCO members as part of broader regional diplomacy.
Authorities in Kabul indicated that the Taliban view such meetings as a pathway to greater regional harmony and security. The message emphasizes a desire for constructive dialogue with SCO partners and a commitment to collaborative security efforts in Central and South Asia.
The Afghan Foreign Ministry also confirmed support for the SCO summit’s final declaration, which includes calls for a war-free and drug-free Afghanistan. This alignment suggests Kabul seeks to underscore stability initiatives within the broader regional architecture while addressing ongoing humanitarian and security challenges.
Additionally, Afghan officials reiterated the importance of sustained humanitarian assistance for the Afghan population and the facilitation of refugee return. This emphasis reflects Afghanistan’s enduring humanitarian priorities amid regional pressures and displacement dynamics.
Conversely, the Taliban clarified that they do not share the SCO member states’ view that the current Taliban government is exclusive or non-inclusive. The statement signals a stance of engaging with international partners while contesting certain characterizations of the regime.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established on June 15, 2001, by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, is a regional forum with a distinct security and economic mandate. It is not a military alliance on par with NATO, nor a formal security council, but occupies an intermediate role intended to foster dialogue and collaboration among member states.
The core objectives of the SCO include enhancing stability and security across member territories, countering terrorism, preventing extremism and separatism, combating drug trafficking, and promoting economic cooperation. Its work aims to address a broad spectrum of regional challenges through coordination rather than confrontation, with a focus on dialogue and practical cooperation.
Beyond these conventional aims, the organization also engages in confidence-building measures, regional connectivity initiatives, and people-to-people exchanges that can influence political dynamics in South and Central Asia. The SCO’s evolving agenda reflects how member states balance security concerns with economic development and regional integration.
In the broader context, observers note the shifting geopolitics surrounding Afghanistan and neighboring states. The SCO’s posture toward Kabul, as well as the Taliban’s willingness to participate in regional forums, may influence future security frameworks, humanitarian policy, and regional diplomacy. The interplay among SCO members, Afghanistan, and neighboring countries continues to shape evolving regional stability and humanitarian responses at large. [Source: Interfax]