Astana backs Kabul’s SCO membership bid: envoy

KABUL’s desire to become a permanent member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Ambassador Bitimov Omirtay, who called on CEO Abdullah Abdullah, said Afghanistan and Kazakhstan enjoyed friendly ties.

He said for further strenghening relations between the two countries, his country was committed to supporting Afghanistan in its quest for becoming a SCO full member.

He said his country also supported Afghanistan’s position in the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Conference (OIC). He hoped relations between the two nations would further improve in various fields.

Omirtay also conferred the Supreme Kazakhstan President’s State medal on Abdullah on the occation of the country’s 25th Independence .

Afghanistan always saw Kazakhstan as a good neighbor, Abdullah said, desiring improved bilateral relations between the two countries in areas of business and transit trade.

He said Afghanistan’s membership of the SCO would not only help improve security in the country but would also boost commercial and transit relations in the region.

Abdullah went on to say joint sessions of the Afghanistan-Kazakhstan commission had already paved the way for expanding relations between the countries and there was a need for only conducting and pursuing the meetings.

He also spoke about experience and joint cooperation between the two countries to fight against terrorism and extremism and called joint efforts as vital and fundamental.

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