The Moscow-Beijing-led security bloc must play a leading role in ensuring that the Taliban deliver on their promises to prevent terrorism and drug smuggling.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) must “use its potential” to “stimulate the new Afghan administration” and ensure that it fulfills its promises to normalize life and maintain security in Afghanistan.
Putin addressed the eight-nation UCO summit in Afghanistan’s neighboring country, Tajikistan, via video.
Russia and China’s allies are holding several meetings in Tajikistan this week.
The DSB also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In 2017, India and Pakistan joined the ICO.
Moscow and Beijing are trying to position themselves as the region’s most important players after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and the transfer of power to the Taliban.
Following the withdrawal of the US and other foreign military contingents from Afghanistan, the Taliban launched a general offensive operation in August and briefly seized almost the entire territory of the country, but on August 15, the capital, Kabul, fell into their hands.
The only province in Afghanistan that had not come under Taliban control until recently was Punjab, but the Taliban leadership announced last Monday that the Islamist movement had taken over the province as well.
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