Russia Pushes to Revive SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group

DID Press: Russia has renewed its call for the revival of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)-Afghanistan Contact Group, arguing that the mechanism remains an important platform for coordinating regional engagement with Afghanistan.

According to Russian officials, Bakhtiyor Khakimov said the Contact Group, which was established in 2008, should resume its activities amid ongoing regional discussions on Afghanistan’s future.

Russian state media reported that Khakimov acknowledged the complexities surrounding engagement with the Taliban administration, noting that the process has moved gradually because the current authorities in Kabul have not been formally recognized by all SCO member states.

He explained that the Contact Group is jointly chaired by representatives of the SCO’s rotating presidency and Afghanistan, making consensus among member states an important factor in reactivating the mechanism.

Khakimov also referred to a special meeting held in Dushanbe last year at the initiative of Tajikistan, saying consultations there helped build support for examining the group’s revival.

Earlier, Sergei Shoigu also advocated restoring the SCO’s engagement framework with Afghanistan, stating that a majority of member states support the initiative.

At their previous summit in Tianjin, SCO member countries issued a joint statement backing international efforts aimed at peace and sustainable development in Afghanistan. The statement emphasized that lasting stability would require an inclusive political framework involving all ethnic and political groups.