Afghanistan Not Invited to Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit

Afghanistan will not be participating in the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, diplomatic sources confirmed. Despite Pakistan holding the chair of the SCO, no obstacles were placed by Islamabad against Afghanistan’s participation.

According to diplomatic sources, Afghanistan is an observer state of the SCO, not a full member, and has been inactive since September 2021. It was granted observer status on June 7, 2012. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not recognized many clauses of the SCO-Afghanistan agreement and does not consider the previous Afghan government as its predecessor, leading to the current non-participation.

Sources further indicated that for the Islamic Emirate to become a fully active observer, it is essential for them to accept the SCO-Afghanistan agreement. Currently, there are two observer states in the organization: Afghanistan and Mongolia, with only Mongolia being invited to attend the summit.

Additionally, dialogue partners have not been extended invitations for this meeting, with the SCO Secretariat only inviting Mongolia to participate.