Afghanistan envoy meets Russia’s Kabulov as SCO opens door to observer role

The Ambassador of Afghanistan to Russia, Ghulam Hassan, has met with Zamir Kabulov, Moscow’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, to discuss deepening ties and regional engagement, the Afghan embassy in Moscow said on Wednesday.

According to the embassy statement, the two sides spoke about strengthening bilateral relations and Afghanistan’s future role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). At the group’s most recent summit, many member states voted in favour of granting Afghanistan observer status, paving the way for the country to join official meetings.

Hassan was quoted as saying Afghanistan’s participation in such forums was a “fundamental need for connecting with the region”.

This development comes as the Taliban authorities have stepped up appearances on the international stage. The group previously sent representatives to the COP29 climate summit, joined discussions at the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) conference in Baku earlier this year, and received an invitation to an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, though it ultimately did not attend.

Shafi Azam, a senior official from the Afghan ministry of foreign affairs told Anewz that the SCO step is symbolically important. 

“Observer status doesn’t mean recognition, but it does mean visibility and a platform.” Azam further stated that “this can help Kabul project themselves as legitimate actors in the region.”

Afghanistan’s increasing engagement contrasts sharply with conditions inside the country. According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), more than 15 million Afghans are facing acute food insecurity. Meanwhile, basic services such as healthcare remain under strain, with WHO warning of malaria outbreaks in several provinces.

Russia’s Kabulov has previously stated that “stability in Afghanistan is crucial for regional security”, while critics argue that inviting the Taliban into multilateral settings risks sidelining concerns about human rights, especially women’s education and employment.

Copied