Senior diplomats from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization met in Moscow on Friday to discuss regional security challenges, including Afghanistan, and to consider renewed engagement with Taliban, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
The consultations, held at the level of deputy foreign ministers and chaired by Russia’s deputy foreign minister, focused on implementing recent agreements among SCO leaders and addressing what officials described as rising global and regional tensions. Afghanistan and the Middle East were central to the discussions.
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said member states reaffirmed their support for “an independent, neutral and peaceful Afghanistan, free from terrorism, war and narcotics.” Officials also reviewed prospects for resuming the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group and expanding what they described as pragmatic dialogue with Taliban.
The meeting took place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions. Participants expressed concern about escalating conflicts globally, including developments involving Iran, an SCO member, and emphasized the need for political and diplomatic solutions.
Sergey Lavrov said in remarks ahead of the meeting that security threats across Eurasia and instability in the Middle East were affecting the broader region, including Central Asia. He stressed the importance of coordinated efforts to address terrorism and regional security risks linked to Afghanistan.
Russian officials have identified several militant groups they say operate in Afghanistan, including ISIS-K, Al Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Jamaat Ansarullah and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. Moscow has estimated the number of fighters affiliated with such groups at around 23,000, though those figures could not be independently verified.
Analysts say the renewed focus on Afghanistan within the SCO reflects a balancing act among member states: addressing persistent security concerns while cautiously exploring channels of engagement with Taliban.
The meeting also included preparations for an upcoming SCO summit scheduled for late August in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, marking the organization’s 25th anniversary.
The discussions underscore the group’s broader effort to strengthen coordination among member states and to promote what officials described as a more multipolar global order, even as instability in Afghanistan continues to shape regional security calculations.
