Taliban want to participate in SCO summits

Representatives of the Taliban government (the movement is recognized as terrorist in Russia and banned) would like to participate in the next summit of SCO leaders, which is scheduled in Astana in 2024. A statement about this was published on July 5 on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan in connection with the meeting held the day before leaders of the SCO (see Vedomosti, July 5).

Afghanistan has had observer status in the SCO since 2012 and has been trying to become a full member of the organization ever since. After the fall of the pro-American government in Kabul and the seizure of power in the country by the Taliban in September 2021, Afghan representatives were no longer invited to the organization’s official events. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan welcomes the holding of such meetings to improve coordination in ensuring the security of the region and the development of cooperation, and considers the participation of Afghanistan in such events as its inalienable right,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

In addition, representatives of the movement said that they support the final New Delhi Declaration of the SCO summit, which supports “an independent, stable, united, war-free and drug-free Afghanistan.” At the same time, the Taliban have expressed disagreement with claims that the Afghan government is not inclusive. “There are representatives of all languages, races and orientations in the state, the problems of the member countries of the organization can be solved by understanding these facts,” the Foreign Ministry added.

The 23rd SCO summit was held via videoconference on July 4 under the chairmanship of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In addition to the Indian prime minister, it was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the heads of four Central Asian republics (except for Turkmenistan, which is not part of the SCO). One of the outcomes of the meeting was the official admission of Iran to the SCO.

The summit participants also discussed the situation around Afghanistan, including the creation of an inclusive government with the participation of all ethnic groups of the country, the problem of combating terrorism and human rights. During the meeting, the Russian President stated that the fight against the activities of terrorist organizations, drug trafficking and organized crime is one of the priorities of Russia and its allies in the Central Asian direction.

And Sharif noted that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan will contribute to global peace, security and progress. He also called on the international community to establish “constructive cooperation with the interim Afghan government so that the territory of Afghanistan is not used for terrorist purposes by any organization.”

Afghanistan will be able to become a full member of the SCO and take part in the summits of its leaders only after the legitimization of the Afghan leadership within the UN, believes the Kyrgyz political scientist Mars Sariev. “So far, all countries in the world consider the Taliban a terrorist organization. A step towards the recognition of the Taliban will be the creation of an inclusive government in Kabul with the participation of all national minorities,” the expert added. But only Pashtuns dominate in the state, while Tajiks, Khazars, Uzbeks and Kyrgyz are actually pushed to the sidelines of the political process in the country, the expert concluded.