The heads of foreign ministries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) urge the parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to refrain from using force and prevent acts capable of destabilizing the country's border areas. This is stated in a joint statement of the SCO foreign ministers following a meeting in the SCO-Afghanistan contact group format.
"We urge all parties involved in the conflict in Afghanistan to refrain from the use of force and actions that can lead to destabilization and unpredictable consequences in the areas of Afghanistan's borders with SCO member states," the document said on Wednesday.
The activities of international terrorist organizations remain a key factor of instability. SCO members expressed concern over the worsening situation in northern Afghanistan "as a result of a sharp increase in the concentration of various terrorist, separatist and extremist groups."
"We consider it important to step up joint efforts of the SCO member states to counter terrorism, separatism and extremism," the statement said.
At the same time, the organization's countries confirmed their readiness to cooperate with Afghanistan in fighting terrorism and challenges and threats to security in the region. "The SCO member states confirm their readiness to further develop cooperation with Afghanistan in fighting the challenges and threats to security in the region, primarily with terrorism and drug-related crime in all their forms and manifestations, to jointly resist double standards in addressing these challenges," the document said.
The countries of the association stressed their interest in making Afghanistan a peaceful, stable and prosperous country, and expressed respect for the traditions and culture of all peoples inhabiting the republic.
"In accordance with the universally recognized principles and norms of international law, especially the UN Charter, the SCO member states reaffirm their respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. They intend to assist Afghanistan in becoming a country free of terrorism, war and drugs," the text reads.
In order to stabilize the situation in the country, the SCO states called on other players and international structures to increase their interaction with Afghanistan. "We confirm the readiness of our countries to further deepen cooperation with Afghanistan in the fields of politics, security, economy and humanitarian interaction, including through the fullest realization of the potential of IRA participation in the status of an observer state in the SCO activities," concluded the representatives of the organization's countries.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Host Photo Agency sco-russia2020.ru
Based on materials from TASS