The secretary general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization said the group could help mediate tensions between Pakistan and Taliban, but only if both sides demonstrate the political will to engage.
Nurlan Yermekbayev said the organization’s member states could use existing mechanisms to support de-escalation and promote a political solution, provided that both parties were willing. “The key condition for any such effort is the political will of the parties involved,” he said.
He added that the organization was closely monitoring developments in relations between Pakistan and the Taliban and considers stability in Afghanistan and neighboring regions critical to broader regional security.
At the same time, Yermekbayev said the organization had not received any formal request from either Islamabad or Taliban to serve as a platform for mediation or dialogue.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has in recent years been used as a regional forum to address security issues, including those related to Afghanistan. Among its initiatives is the Shanghai-Afghanistan Contact Group, which was established to promote dialogue and coordination on regional stability.
Yermekbayev said the organization supports resolving regional disputes through political and diplomatic means, emphasizing principles such as respect for national sovereignty and the pursuit of cooperative solutions.
Russia and several other regional countries have previously expressed willingness to mediate between Pakistan and the Taliban.
Afghanistan has been an observer in the organization since 2012, but its participation has remained uncertain since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
