Stability in Afghanistan vital to regional security: SCO

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has underlined the imperative of dealing with the current crisis in Afghanistan.

At the end of their two-day meeting in Samarkand, leaders of the grouping said in a declaration that urgently addressing the situation in Afghanistan was vital to security un in the region.

SCO leaders said in the Samarkand Declaration on Friday: “The member states believe that resolving the situation in Afghanistan as soon as possible is one of the most important factors in terms of maintaining and strengthening security in the SCO region.”

TASS news agency quoted the participants as supporting the establishment of Afghanistan as an independent, neutral, united, democratic and peaceful state free of terrorism, war and drugs.

The SCO leaders also stressed the importance of creating an inclusive government in Afghanistan, including members of all ethnic, religious and political groups.

Special attention must be paid to the issue of refugees, the participants stressed, highlighting the need for the international community to undertake active efforts to facilitate their safe return home.

The declaration added: “Given the current humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the member states called for continued efforts to provide assistance to the Afghan people.”

The SCO summit, which concluded in Uzbekistan on Friday, was attended by leaders of SCO member states, observer countries and guests.

PAN Monitor/mud