SCO Summit to Convene in Bishkek Without Afghan Representation

DID Press: Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit is scheduled to take place on Monday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with leaders of member states expected to discuss political, security and economic issues as well as major regional and international developments.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected to attend the summit. Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, said Putin would visit Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 1 and participate in the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State.

The summit will bring together leaders of the organisation’s 10 member states: Russia, Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status in the organisation, while 15 other countries have the status of dialogue partners. Representatives from the United Nations, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent States are also expected to attend.

Despite Afghanistan’s observer status, the country has not been represented at SCO meetings since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.