“The Shanghai Cooperation Organization members are one of the most important factors in the region’s security and growth. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries reiterated their support for the development of Afghanistan as an independent, impartial, integrated, democratic, peaceful, and free of terrorism, war, and drugs.”

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in SamarKand, Uzbekistan, came to a conclusion on the last day, 16 September 2022, with members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization asking the Taliban to form an inclusive administration in Afghanistan.

Based on the final statement of this meeting: “The heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, while emphasizing the importance of developing defense and security cooperation, also insisted on the necessity of holding joint military exercises to fight terrorism, to increase the level of dealing with armed terrorist groups worldwide and to improve methods of combating the terrorists.”

Although the countries of the region have encouraged the Taliban group to build an inclusive government, the Taliban have consistently stated that the current government of this group is inclusive in Afghanistan and that there is no place for the leaders of the previous government. Previously, Shahabuddin Delawar, Taliban Minister of Mines and Petroleum, stated in an interview that the international community wants a cabinet that includes some former government officials from the Republic of Afghanistan.

The member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization stressed in their statement the significance of building a comprehensive administration in Afghanistan that includes all ethnic, religious and political groups.

This statement also includes: “Concerning the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, member states intend to maintain their efforts to aid the Afghan people. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization leaders stated that they believe the Afghanistan issue should be settled as soon as possible. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization members are one of the most important factors in the region’s security and growth. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries reiterated their support for the development of Afghanistan as an independent, impartial, integrated, democratic, peaceful, and free of terrorism, war, and drugs.”

However, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, the presidents of a number of member countries of this organization viewed Afghanistan’s peace and stability as crucial for the region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who initiated the unjustified war in Ukraine and has Russian military stationed there, stated at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit that the organization’s priority in the current scenario should be the fight against terrorism and extremism.

Putin emphasized the importance of other Shanghai Cooperation Organization members controlling conflicts along the region’s frontiers, notably Afghanistan’s border areas.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the Taliban should be urged to accede to the formation of an inclusive administration.

The Chinese President also stressed the importance of preventing the establishment of bases for terrorist activities in Afghanistan, saying that the expansion and establishment of bases for terrorist groups in Afghanistan should be avoided.

These concerns have grown since the US announced that Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of the al-Qaeda network, was killed in a drone strike on July 31 in Kabul’s Shirpur area.

Despite the fact that Afghanistan was formerly an observer member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, neither Afghanistan’s delegation nor the Taliban were invited to the latest gathering.

In 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established. Permanent members of this organization are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan. Afghanistan, Belarus, Mongolia, and Iran serve as supervisors.