Afghanistan was discussed during the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting, which was hosted by India and started in virtual form on Tuesday.
The participants of this summit discussed a number of significant topics, including the creation of an inclusive government, the fight against terrorism, the issue of human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, and providing humanitarian assistance to the nation.
“The situation in Afghanistan has had a direct impact on the security of all of us (countries). India’s concerns and expectations regarding Afghanistan are the same as most of the SCO member countries. We have to make united efforts for the welfare of the people of Afghanistan. Humanitarian aid to Afghans, creation of inclusive government, the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, ensuring the rights of women, children and minorities are our common priorities,” said the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, said during the summit that fighting the activities of terrorist organizations, drug trafficking, and organized crime is a priority for Russia and its allies in Afghanistan.
“Another focus of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is on the situation in Afghanistan. Our partners have recently talked about this. In this context, the priority of the SCO should be to fight against terrorist activities, prevent the radicalization of minorities, and stop drug trafficking and fight against organized crime,” Putin noted.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at the summit that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan will contribute to global peace, security and progress.
“The international community should meaningfully engage with the interim Afghan government to take the next steps. Similarly, the interim Afghan government must also take concrete measures to ensure its soil is not used for terrorism by any entity. A peaceful and stable Afghanistan will not only bring economic dividends to the Afghan people but will also unlock the true economic potential of the SCO region as well as contribute to global peace, security and progress,” Sharif added.
In the meantime, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the President of Kazakhstan emphasized the need for the continuation of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
“We must make sure that all human rights events are honored; and this action will promote regional cooperation and peace. I’m confident that all of your organization members will keep working to support the Afghan people. I also appreciate the Afghan government’s neighbors’ commitment to aiding the people of Afghanistan,” Guterres said.
However, Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Islamic Emirate’s political office in Qatar, said that sanctions imposed on the current government should be lifted and that the Islamic Emirate’s representative should be invited to such summits.
“In order to end poverty and create job opportunities, it is necessary for the United Nations to start other development projects, end economic sanctions and separate political issues from humanitarian issues,” Shaheen said.
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 23rd SCO online summit, which included participation by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi among other leaders of the observer states.
