Afghanistan must be involved in the projects of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the SCO Bakhtier Khakimov.
In his opinion, without the participation of Kabul it is impossible to implement transport and energy initiatives in the region. Since 2021, Afghanistan has controlled the Taliban movement, which is under international sanctions for terrorist activities, in the Russian Federation it is also recognized as terrorist and prohibited.
“Afghanistan should be involved in all general projects – this is obvious. It is impossible to develop either a transport relationship or large energy projects without the participation of this country,” said Mr. Khakimov “RIA Novosti”.
The special representative of the Russian president drew attention to the fact that Afghanistan remains an observer of the SCO, since the state was accepted into the organization, not the government.
The shos-Afganistan contact group has not yet been working, since the world community does not recognize the Afghan government. This complicates the connection of Kabul to the SCO regional projects, such as the Tapi gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to India, as well as the construction of CASA-1000 power lines.
Taliban on the eve of July 5, announced the desire to participate in the next SCO summit in Kazakhstan. The movement noted that he considers his presence as “fundamental law, and the absence – as an obstacle to general cooperation”.