KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have renewed their call for an inclusive political structure in Afghanistan that represents all ethnic and political groups, describing it as essential for lasting peace and stability.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday after a two-day summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the leaders reaffirmed their support for an independent, united and peaceful Afghanistan free from terrorism, war and drugs.
The leaders also expressed readiness to support international efforts to promote peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, according to the statement.
The meeting, held to mark the 25th anniversary of the SCO’s establishment, began on Monday and concluded on Tuesday with the adoption of the joint statement. The situation in Afghanistan was among the issues discussed at the summit.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking at the summit, raised concerns about militant groups operating from Afghan territory, saying they continue to use it to launch attacks and kill civilians in Pakistan.
Sharif said lasting peace in the region would not be possible as long as attacks originating from Afghanistan continue to undermine security in Pakistan and neighboring countries. He called for such attacks to be effectively stopped.
As in previous summits, the Taliban were not invited. Afghanistan, which once participated regularly as an observer under its former government, has been excluded from SCO meetings since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
The country remains largely isolated internationally. Russia is the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban government, while many other governments have raised concerns over political inclusivity, human rights, particularly restrictions on women and girls, and the Taliban’s ties to terrorist groups.
Over the years, SCO member states have repeatedly urged the Taliban to form a more representative government. They have also stressed the need to prevent Afghanistan from again becoming a source of security threats to neighboring countries. The Taliban authorities have maintained that their administration is already inclusive and that the composition of the government is an internal matter.
According to the joint statement, the next SCO summit will be held in Pakistan after the organization transfers its presidency from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan for 2026–2027. Member states also designated Lahore as the organization’s tourism and cultural capital for 2026-2027.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a Eurasian intergovernmental body founded in 2001 that focuses on political, economic and security cooperation among its members, which currently include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, and many Central Asian states.
