Afghanistan to Take Center Stage at Upcoming SCO Summit in Tajikistan

Nearly four years after the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, Afghanistan remains one of the central topics in regional discussions.

Now, the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has announced that a consultative meeting of the organization will be held on September 11 and 12 this year in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, with Afghanistan as a key focus of the summit.

Nurlan Yermekbayev described the situation in Afghanistan as “challenging” and noted that despite signs of economic improvement, deep-rooted social and humanitarian issues, particularly concerning women’s rights remain unresolved.

One of the main themes of the upcoming meeting will be how SCO member states engage with the Taliban on security-related matters.

The SCO Secretary-General, stated: “A comprehensive exchange of views is planned regarding the current situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the region.”

Najib Rahman Shamal, a political analyst, said: “At next week’s SCO summit in Tajikistan, Afghanistan will be a key topic covering security, political, and economic cooperation. I hope that the mentioned countries will work with Afghanistan to achieve lasting peace and to combat terrorism wherever it exists.”

Political experts believe the Dushanbe summit could provide an opportunity for SCO member states to once again clarify their shared stance on Afghanistan.

Sayed Ebadullah Sadiq, a political affairs expert, said: “Afghanistan is the focus of discussion between two poles. A conflict of interest over Afghanistan exists between Russia and the West, with both sides benefiting from insecurity and terrorism. The current priority is for the region to liberate Afghanistan from NATO’s dominance and instead integrate it into the region, with the Islamic Emirate meeting its economic needs through regional integration.”

Moeen Gul Samkanai, another political expert, added: “Afghanistan has played an observer role in past SCO meetings. Now, our demand is that Afghanistan be granted permanent membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.”

Meanwhile, another SCO meeting is scheduled for tomorrow in Tianjin, China, with the participation of representatives from 20 countries and dozens of international organizations.