... efforts to counter the threats posed by its southern neighbor.
Second, the SCO is acting under a protocol on cooperation with Afghanistan on countering extremism and separatism signed last May 29 by Deputy Foreign Minister Khalil Hekmat
Karzai.
Afghanistan would like to swap its SCO observer status for full membership, as not only Kabul but also Afghan society, especially young people, seem to support the move. On May 31, 2015, i.e. several weeks before the SCO summit in Ufa, Mazar-e-Sharif hosted a
students’ rally in ...
... were particularly significant, indicating that they are all aware of the dangers inherent in fueling territorial and ethnic tensions. This success results from both Tajik diplomacy and multilateral SCO efforts.
The Dushanbe Declaration statement on Afghanistan does not outline a solid SCO position on the deteriorating situation and does not offer Kabul any help, meaning that assistance will remain exclusively bilateral.
Against the backdrop of Western sanctions, President Putin found himself surrounded by friends and partners in Dushanbe ...
... slow-moving. I think something must be done about it.
Vitaly Vorobyov
The SCO appears somewhat ambivalent as far as Afghanistan is concerned
[1]
. On the one hand, many documents have been signed
[2]
, political consultations are underway
[3]
, the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group was set up in 2005, and SCO members participate in international forums
[4]
. But on the other hand, any sort of practical cooperation exists only on a bilateral basis. Is the organization ready to do its part in maintaining ...
... terrorism. Mr. Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, rightfully noted that “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) would benefit if countries such as India and Pakistan joined it” (5). If what is expected truly materializes, Asia ... ... military strike option on Syria but seeing Russia do the same was a surprising yet welcome sight. Then there is also the issue of Afghanistan: American and allied forces are scheduled to withdraw beginning from 2014, or at least that is what has been publicly ...
... withdrawal of the international coalition troops from Afghanistan? What contribution can India make to maintaining security after 2014?
Afghanistan's neighbors will be largely responsible for security in the region, and they are members or observers of the SCO. Indeed, Afghanistan is an observer too. And, of course, the role and importance of India as a full member and potential guarantor of security in the region is beyond doubt. The task of providing security, not just in Central Asia, I would say, but in the Eurasian ...
