Russia has expressed support for reviving the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)-Afghanistan Contact Group, saying there is broad backing among SCO member states for renewed engagement with Afghanistan through the regional body.
Speaking at a briefing, Russia’s Special Representative for SCO Affairs, Bakhtiyor Khakimov, said Moscow maintains stable relations with Kabul and views the resumption of the contact group’s activities as an important step toward strengthening regional cooperation.
“We believe the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, which was established in 2007, should resume its activities,” Khakimov said. “This understanding generally prevails within the organization.”
Khakimov noted that efforts to revive the mechanism gained momentum during special consultations on Afghanistan held in Dushanbe in September last year at the initiative of Tajikistan. Participants agreed to examine possible ways to restart the group and enhance coordination on Afghanistan-related issues.
He acknowledged that procedural challenges remain, as the contact group is traditionally co-chaired by the deputy foreign minister of the SCO’s rotating chair country and a representative from Afghanistan.
Because not all SCO member states have formally recognized the current authorities in Kabul, Khakimov said progress toward reactivating the mechanism is likely to be gradual.
