The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have reiterated their call for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan that represents all ethnic and political groups in the country.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, the SCO member countries emphasized the need for such a government to achieve lasting peace and stability. The statement underscored their support for an independent, peaceful, and terrorism-free Afghanistan.
The SCO also endorsed a proposal by Kazakhstan to establish a regional United Nations center for sustainable development goals in Almaty, which would serve Central Asia and Afghanistan. Additionally, the statement highlighted Tajikistan’s concerns about security issues along its border with Afghanistan.
“The member states support the initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan to develop the concept of creating a security belt around Afghanistan,” the statement read.
The SCO members urged the international community to reach a consensus on adopting a comprehensive convention to suppress international terrorism within the framework of the United Nations.
On the issue of Palestine, the member states asserted that the only path to peace and stability in the Middle East is through a comprehensive and just resolution of the Palestinian issue.
The Russian delegation reiterated its stance on the Taliban, acknowledging it as a “reality” in Afghanistan and stressing the necessity of establishing relations with the group.
