RASC News Agency: The Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has underscored the importance of establishing an inclusive government in Afghanistan that integrates representatives from all political, ethnic, and religious groups. In a recent interview with Russia’s “Izvestia” newspaper, Zhang Ming emphasized that such a government structure is crucial for Afghanistan’s future.
Published on Monday, October 28, the interview highlighted Afghanistan’s pivotal role in regional peace, stability, and security. Zhang expressed the SCO’s vision for a transformed Afghanistan a nation free from terrorism, conflict, and narcotics. “We hope for a future in which Afghanistan is governed inclusively, with broad representation across political, ethnic, and religious spectrums,” Zhang stated. He noted that this approach aligns with the interests of Afghanistan, SCO member states, and the broader international community. The SCO, founded in 2001 by Russia and China, now includes nine member countries: Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
While Afghanistan joined the SCO as an observer on June 7, 2012, the Taliban have not been invited to participate in SCO meetings over the past three years. Notably, although some key SCO member states maintain diplomatic ties with the Taliban, they remain cautious of the group’s extremist activities and potential for regional destabilization. Recognizing that the Taliban government is ethnically exclusive, these nations acknowledge that Afghanistan a multi-ethnic country cannot achieve sustainable peace or governance through unilateral control by any single group.
