SCO: Caretaker Government Must Enable Inclusive Political Participation

DID Press: Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) emphasized that establishing an inclusive government with representatives from all ethnic and political groups is essential for achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan amid ongoing security and social challenges.

Speaking ahead of the SCO’s annual summit, Secretary-General Norlan Yermakbayev stressed the necessity of forming an inclusive government in Afghanistani to ensure sustainable stability.

In an interview with Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, Yermakbayev described the situation in Afghanistan as “still concerning,” highlighting ongoing threats including terrorism, human rights violations—especially those affecting women—and social crises.

“All SCO members agree that stability in Afghanistan is impossible without the genuine participation of all ethnic and political groups,” Yermakbayev said, adding while SCO member states maintain bilateral contacts with the acting government, they consider the formation of an inclusive government a prerequisite for formal recognition and broader cooperation with Afghanistan’s current authorities.

According to Yermakbayev, although some economic indicators have improved in Afghanistan, humanitarian challenges and the presence of extremist groups like ISIS-Khorasan remain serious threats to regional and global security.

In this context, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu recently warned that over 23,000 fighters affiliated with 20 international terrorist organizations, including ISIS-Khorasan, are active in Afghanistan.

UN reports have also confirmed the existence of training bases for groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda within the country.