ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called for the revival of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Contact Group on Afghanistan during a meeting on Tuesday.
Dar urged the Taliban to adhere to “the principle of inclusive politics and the observance of all Afghans’ rights.”
“The Contact Group on Afghanistan should be revived within the SCO to create a platform for practical cooperation,” Dar said.
The first meeting of the SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan was held in 2021.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister reiterated his call for the Taliban to curb terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan.
“We urge the interim government of Afghanistan to take tangible and effective measures to ensure that Afghan soil is not used against any country,” Dar said.
He emphasized that the Taliban should adhere to globally accepted principles, including participation and respect for the rights of all Afghans, particularly women and girls.
Additionally, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister called for “meaningful relations between the international community and the Taliban” to improve economic conditions and address the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
Dar traveled to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on Monday to attend the two-day SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.
