Russian president Vladimir Putin called the hasty withdrawal of US troops and their allies from Afghanistan an escape.
"The urgent task facing our organization is to pursue a single and coordinated policy based on the assessment of serious risks related to the mounting tensions in Afghanistan following the hasty withdrawal - if not more like a downright escape - by US and NATO troops from the country," Putin said Friday, speaking via video link at the SCO summit.
According to the president of the Russian Federation, it is obvious to everyone that the developments in Afghanistan are clearly affecting the security interests of SCO nations. He also noted that a number of the organization's members shared borders with Afghanistan.
In view of this fact, the Russian leader urged to use the potential of the SCO to promote an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan. "I think that first of all, we need to employ the organization's potential to facilitate the launch of an inclusive intra-Afghan peace process in every possible way and at the same time, make every effort to block the threats of terrorism, drug trafficking and religious extremism emanating from this country," Putin said.
The Russian president also called for encouraging the new Afghan authorities to make good on their promises. "The change of government [in Afghanistan] has been practically bloodless, which is, undoubtedly, a positive thing. The Taliban (banned in Russia - TASS) now control almost all of Afghanistan so the new Afghan authorities should be encouraged to fulfill their own promises to establish peace, normalize public life and guarantee security for all," the Russian head of state stressed.
Putin pointed to the symbolism that the SCO's 20th anniversary summit was taking place in Dushanbe, the city where the leaders of the Shanghai Five nations had supported the establishment of a regional organization for multilateral cooperation back in July 2000. According to the president of the Russian Federation, the organization has been working successfully throughout its 20-year existence. "The SCO is rightfully considered to be one of the most influential centers of the multipolar architecture of international cooperation, it contributes a lot to ensuring security in Eurasia and its sustainable socio-economic growth, along with efforts to maintain global peace and stability in general," the Russian leader noted.
SCO - Afghanistan contact group
The Russian president also called for thinking about resuming the activity of the SCO-Afghanistan contact group. "It would be possible to think about reactivating the SCO-Afghanistan contact group, which was created exactly in due time to work with the Afghan partners," Putin said.
He reminded that the algorithm of joint actions on operative response to threats from the Afghan territory was discussed in detail at the September 16 session of the CSTO Collective security council.
The president stressed that Russia is interested in ensuring that the decisions adopted at the session meet the support and understanding of the SCO partners. The Russian leader added, "That's why I find the initiative to hold a joint meeting of the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the CSTO today very relevant and useful," noting that it provides an opportunity to discuss the issues of practical cooperation of the two organizations on the Afghan track in more detail and build the necessary coordination taking into account the specifics and powers of the SCO and the CSTO.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS