The Shanghai cooperation organization (SCO) countries are not talking about the recognition of the new Taliban government in Kabul, but the task is to build contacts with the force in power in Afghanistan. Bakhtiyor Khakimov, the Russian president's special representative for SCO affairs and ambassador-at-large for the MFA, said at an online conference on Thursday.
"The Taliban movement as a terrorist organization was banned in Russia. But the objective reality today is that what we call the Taliban movement is in power. A new interim government has been formed. At this stage, there is no question of recognition, but to establish contacts with those who came to power to involve them in a constructive dialogue," he said.
Khakimov added that the SCO is ready to assist in Afghanistan's economic reconstruction, development of the country and its further participation in regional cooperation. "The key task remains to promote a pan-Afghan political dialogue and a pan-Afghan settlement. Otherwise, the situation in Afghanistan will remain the same as it has been for many years - chaos, unrest, powerlessness, and so on," explained the special presidential representative. - "But there is an understanding that the main responsibility for the social and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan should be borne by those countries that have been there for 20 years and actively participated not so much in the construction and reconstruction of the country as in the economic destruction of the country, which is reflected in the humanitarian disaster that we see in Afghanistan today".
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS