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Kazakh president urges SCO to focus more on Afghanistan
The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, says member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) should pay more attention to the situation in Afghanistan so as to ensure international terrorist groups do not take shelter in the country.
This came during an SCO meeting on Wednesday when the Afghanistan situation was discussed.
Currently, Kazakhstan holds the rotating presidency of the SCO and this latest meeting of national security advisers of member countries was held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
Referring to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Tokayev said “it is important to continue efforts to end the crisis in this country in order to create conditions for long-term stability.”
SCO member countries’ national security advisers meanwhile issued a statement and called on the Islamic Emirate to fulfill its responsibility in the fight against international terrorist groups.
According to Russia’s TASS news agency, Nikolai Patrushev, the Russian National Security Adviser, said that the leaders of the delegations of the SCO member countries asked the rulers in Afghanistan to clamp down on individuals who, according to them, are based in Afghanistan and pose a threat in the fight against terrorism, especially international terrorist organizations.
The Islamic Emirate has not yet responded to the report, but has repeatedly said it will not allow any group to use Afghanistan’s soil against other countries.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which was created with the aim of strengthening security and economy in the region, currently has nine members.
Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan and Iran, while Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia have observer roles.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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