Afghanistan will not take part in the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled for October 15 and 16 in Islamabad due to not receiving an invitation from the bloc’s Secretariat. This absence was confirmed by Express News, highlighting Afghanistan’s current classification as an observer state rather than a full member of the organization.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Afghanistan’s SCO membership has been inactive since September 2021. The country became an SCO observer on June 7, 2012, but has not been actively engaged since its membership was affected.
As the host nation for the summit, Pakistan is expected to welcome leaders from various countries, along with around 200 delegations. Reports suggest that the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan has not acknowledged many provisions of the SCO-Afghan agreement, which is essential for the recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
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In contrast to Afghanistan, Mongolia has been invited to attend the summit as an observer state. The SCO continues to focus on fostering regional cooperation and security, with significant participation anticipated at the upcoming meeting.