ISLAMABAD: The Taliban administration's absence from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit marks another leaders’ meeting from which the Afghan rulers have been excluded since returning to power in 2021, according to Afghanistan International.
The SCO summit opened Monday in Bishkek, with security concerns linked to Afghanistan, including terrorism and drug trafficking, expected to be a prominent focus as leaders from across Eurasia gather for talks on regional security, trade and connectivity.
Afghanistan has held observer status in the SCO since 2012, but the Taliban administration has not been invited to participate in the annual leaders’ summits since the Taliban took power again in 2021.
The Taliban also did not attend the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting in July, in which Afghanistan’s security situation was discussed. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described terrorism originating from Afghanistan as one of Pakistan’s most serious security challenges.
Concerns over militant groups operating from Afghanistan have repeatedly featured in SCO discussions. Afghanistan’s other neighbors have also warned that terrorist activity and instability inside the country could spill across borders and threaten regional security.
Several bilateral meetings are scheduled on the sidelines of the summit, with leaders expected to discuss economic and trade cooperation, energy, transportation and connectivity as well as security issues.
The summit comes as SCO members seek to strengthen regional cooperation while navigating differing national interests and growing geopolitical tensions. Afghanistan is expected to remain a key part of those discussions, even without the Taliban administration at the table.