No Invitation Extended to Afghanistan for SCO Meeting
Inactive Observer Status Confirmed
Afghanistan will not participate in the upcoming SCO Summit. Diplomatic sources confirm no invitation was extended. Afghanistan currently holds an Observer State status. The country is not a full member of the SCO. Afghanistan became an SCO observer on June 7, 2012. Crucially, the country has been inactive since September 2021. This inactive status directly contributed to the non-invitation.
Dispute Over Past Agreements
A significant political obstacle remains a factor. The Islamic Emirate is hesitant to comply fully. They have not recognized most provisions of the SCO Afghanistan Agreement. The Islamic Emirate does not recognize the former government. They refuse to accept it as a predecessor government. Recognizing the SCO-Afghan agreement is mandatory. This is required for any meaningful participation.
Criteria for SCO Summit Attendance
The SCO Secretariat limited its invitations strictly. Dialogue partners were not invited to this Summit. Only one other Observer State received an invitation. Mongolia, the SCO’s other observer, was invited to attend. This selective approach emphasizes membership status. The Afghanistan SCO Summit Exclusion is therefore procedural. The Islamic Emirate must change its policy on the agreement.
Focus on Regional Stability
The SCO promotes regional security vigorously. Recognizing official agreements is fundamental. The Afghanistan SCO Summit Exclusion will be temporary. It depends on future political developments. Afghanistan’s active participation is vital for the region. Full engagement requires fulfilling all formal criteria. This includes recognizing established bilateral agreements.
