Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Seeks Official Membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Suhail Shaheen, who serves as the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Qatar, has urged for the official membership of the country in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In his statements, Shaheen called for the revival of Afghanistan's membership in various international bodies. He highlighted that having representatives present in the meetings of these organizations is crucial for addressing and resolving the challenges that the country faces.

Bakhtiar Khakimov, the special representative of Russia for SCO affairs, has advocated for the revival of the contact group on Afghanistan within the organization. This proposal has gained the backing of most members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Aziz Ma'raj, an Afghan political analyst, has commented on the potential benefits of permanent membership. According to Ma'raj, achieving official permanent membership in the SCO would mark a significant advancement for Afghanistan. He pointed out that this membership would not depend on the specific government in power at any time.

It is noted that Afghanistan has maintained observer member status in the SCO since 2012. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was originally founded in 2001.

The push for greater involvement comes as part of broader efforts to reintegrate Afghanistan into international structures. Shaheen's position emphasizes the practical need for participation to tackle ongoing issues. The support expressed by Russia's representative and others suggests a consensus among several nations on the value of re-engaging with Afghanistan through the SCO framework. Such steps could lead to more effective dialogue on regional security and economic matters. The analyst's view underscores the long-term stability that formal membership could provide independent of political changes.