Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Zhao Xing, China’s ambassador to Kabul, extended an invitation to the Islamic Emirate to participate in this year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.

The invitation was extended during a meeting with Mohammad Naeem, the Deputy Minister for Finance and Administration of the Afghan Foreign Ministry.

In a statement released on Sunday, the ministry noted China’s interest in “expanding bilateral cooperation.”

The statement quoted Zhao as saying that China, as Afghanistan’s close neighbor, places “great importance on strengthening its relationship” with Afghanistan and is ready to take further steps toward developing ties between the two countries.

During the meeting, Naeem emphasized the importance of neighborly relations, saying:

“Afghanistan and China are neighboring countries, and maintaining positive relations between neighbors is essential for both sides.”

The Islamic Emirate was not invited to the SCO summit held in Islamabad on October 15–16, 2024.

Reports indicate that Afghanistan’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been inactive since September 2021. Afghanistan became an observer member of the SCO on June 7, 2012, but has not actively participated in the organization’s activities since joining.

The 25th SCO Summit is scheduled to be held in China in the second half of this year.

The summit will offer a platform for discussions on key issues including food security, energy, the environment, and the fight against terrorism.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which represents 25% of global GDP and 40% of the world’s population, plays a key role in fostering economic, trade, and security cooperation among its member states.

In addition to the leaders’ summit, more than 40 related meetings of SCO mechanisms are expected to take place in China throughout the year.

Pakistan has set up a 24/7 hotline to assist Afghan nationals and respond to complaints of harassment during their repatriation, according to a statement issued on Sunday, amid growing criticism of Islamabad’s ongoing deportation campaign.

The decision comes a day after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul and met with senior Islamic Emirate officials to discuss a number of issues including the mass deportation of Afghans from Pakistan. 

“Pakistan has set up a 24/7 Federal Control Room at the National Crisis Information Management Cell (NCIMC) to assist Afghan nationals and address complaints of harassment during repatriation,” a statement noted. 

According to the statement, issued by the office of Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Sadiq Khan, the helpline service was launched in line with Dar’s commitment during his visit to Kabul. 

Dar reportedly promised that Pakistan’s interior ministry would issue a notification within 48 hours to streamline a complaints mechanism for Afghan returnees.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Dar spoke with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to thank him for the hospitality extended during the visit. 

Both leaders expressed satisfaction over the outcome of their talks and agreed to “expeditiously implement the decisions taken for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries,” the ministry said

Dar also invited Muttaqi to visit Pakistan, an invitation the Afghan official accepted.

This latest move comes amid Islamabad’s drive to deport more than 800,000 Afghan refugees from the country – many of whom have lived in Pakistan for decades. 

Rights groups and Afghan officials have in recent weeks voiced concern over the treatment of refugees. Many of these refugees have reported harassment, arbitrary arrests, seizure of property and possessions and family separations. 

According to Pakistan, almost 85,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since April 1. 

Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, arrived in Kabul on Monday for talks aimed at boosting bilateral relations and expanding economic cooperation with Afghanistan.

During his visit, Zhumangarin is scheduled to meet with senior officials of the Islamic Emirate to discuss key issues surrounding trade, investment, and regional connectivity. The visit also coincides with the upcoming Kazakh-Afghan Business Forum, set to take place on Tuesday, which will bring together government representatives and private sector leaders from both countries. The forum will focus on exploring opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, and transit.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Afghanistan stated that the Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation were officially welcomed upon arrival by Nooruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, along with other senior Afghan officials.

As part of the visit, a business exhibition featuring products from more than 40 Kazakh companies will also be held in Kabul.

The exhibition will highlight Kazakhstan’s export capabilities in various sectors, including food products, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.

According to Azar News, Kazakhstan views this visit as a significant step toward strengthening regional partnerships, particularly as part of broader efforts to develop new transit corridors connecting Central Asia to South Asia and beyond.

In addition to trade talks, Abdul Wali Umar, Deputy Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Authority, expressed gratitude to Zhumangarin for Kazakhstan’s recent humanitarian assistance, which included 3.5 tons of medical supplies and equipment.

The visit follows closely on the heels of a high-level Pakistani delegation’s trip to Kabul, underscoring growing diplomatic and economic engagement between Afghanistan and its regional neighbors.

Mullah Abdul warmly welcomed the delegation

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, also warmly welcomed the delegation at the Prime Minister’s Office upon their arrival in Kabul.

In a meeting, led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan and the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, other officials also attended including the Acting Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of the Islamic Emirate, the Acting Governor of the Afghanistan Bank, the Deputy Ministers of Industry, Commerce, and Mines and Petroleum, as well as the Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate to Kazakhstan, will also participate.

Officials from both countries were expected to discuss the further expansion of cooperation in infrastructure projects, as well as economic, trade, and transit relations between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan.