RASC News Agency: Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has declared that Tajikistan opposes the Taliban’s inclusion in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meetings and the revival of the Contact Group’s engagement with Afghanistan. In an interview with the news outlet “RIA Novosti,” Russia’s special representative highlighted that the topic of resuming the Contact Group’s activities with Afghanistan was discussed during the latest meeting of SCO member states’ foreign ministers.
He further noted that at this meeting, held on May 20-21 of the current year in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan, most foreign ministers from SCO member states agreed to restart the Contact Group’s operations concerning Afghanistan. Mr. Kabulov remarked, “Among our Tajik partners, there are some reservations, but we anticipate they will moderate their position in the near future.”
The Contact Group between the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Afghanistan was established to cooperate on counterterrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime. The inaugural session of this group convened on July 14, 2021, in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, with Mohammad Hanif Atmar, the former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, in attendance. Permanent members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization include China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Currently, Belarus and Mongolia participate as observer members.
Prior to the Taliban’s assumption of power, Afghanistan participated as an observer in the organization’s meetings. However, since the Taliban’s takeover of the country, Afghanistan representatives have not been invited to attend these sessions. It is noteworthy that following the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan, Tajikistan has consistently backed the National Resistance Front led by Ahmad Massoud.
