The 19th annual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) convened in Kazakhstan, primarily to address the escalating regional terrorism spurred by the Taliban’s assumption of power in Afghanistan.
Comprising member nations such as China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan, the SCO expressed profound apprehensions regarding the potential exploitation of Afghan territory by terrorist factions.
The SCO issued a collective call to the Taliban-led Afghan government, urging it to uphold its commitments against terrorism and implement effective counter-strategies. National security advisors underscored the urgent imperative of addressing international terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan.
The SCO’s Security Council underscored the criticality of bolstering cooperation to combat terrorism, organized crime, terrorist financing, and illicit migration. Members underscored the inherent risks posed by terrorist entities operating from Afghan soil.
Persistent concerns have been articulated by SCO members and other global entities regarding Afghanistan’s status as a hub for terrorism in recent times. The spotlight now shifts to whether the Afghan government will take tangible steps to address these ongoing anxieties. As the region grapples with the specter of terrorism, the international community awaits resolute actions from Afghanistan.
