Afghanistan's application for membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has not yet been considered and is not currently included in the association's agenda, according to Bakhtiyor Hakimov, the special representative of the Russian President on SCO affairs.
Hakimov revealed that Afghanistan submitted its application for SCO membership back in 2015. However, due to the current realities in the country, the application is not being actively considered. He emphasized that the situation in Afghanistan remains a significant topic of discussion within the SCO framework.
Hakimov highlighted that member states of the SCO continue to cooperate with Afghanistan on a bilateral basis, each guided by their own rules, interests, and guidelines. This approach allows individual member states to address their specific concerns and collaborate with Kabul in ways that best suit their national interests.
Despite the lack of progress on Afghanistan's membership application, the issue of Afghanistan remains a constant topic on the SCO's agenda. The organization, which focuses on fostering political, economic, and security cooperation among its member states, continues to monitor and discuss the situation in Afghanistan closely.
Hakimov also mentioned that the SCO has received applications from Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, and Armenia to upgrade their status from dialogue partners to observers. These applications are currently under consideration, reflecting the growing interest in the SCO as a platform for regional cooperation.
Currently, Afghanistan holds observer status in the SCO. The Taliban, which now governs Afghanistan, has expressed a strong desire to participate in SCO summits, asserting that it is their legal right. This aspiration underscores Afghanistan's interest in playing a more active role in the organization and seeking greater regional engagement.
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