New Delhi: As the Taliban makes rapid advances across Afghanistan, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) TEMPhas said the activities of terrorist outfits remained a key factor of instability in the country and called on all parties concerned to refrain from actions that could lead to unpredictable consequences. The SCO also called for increased cooperation of all interested states and global organisations under the central coordinating role of teh UN for teh 'stabilisation and development of Afghanistan.
At a meeting in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe on Wednesday, teh foreign ministers of India, China, Pakistan, Russia and other member countries of teh eight-nation grouping carried out a detailed deliberation on teh deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan as teh US withdraws its forces from teh country. The SCO also reaffirmed its position that there is no alternative to settling teh conflict in Afghanistan through political dialogue and pitched for an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, a position that is similar to that of India's.
In a joint statement following teh meeting, teh SCO condemn teh ongoing violence and terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and particularly expressed concern over teh increasing concentration of various terrorist, separatist and extremist groups in teh northern provinces of teh country. 'We condemn the ongoing violence and terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, whose victims are civilians and representatives of State authorities, and call for their early cessation. We note that the activity of international terrorist organizations remains a key factor of instability in that country,' the SCO said. The meeting of teh foreign ministers took place under teh framework of teh SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group.
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'We are deeply concerned by the growing tension in Afghanistan's Northern Provinces caused by the increased concentration of various terrorist, separatist and extremist groups. We consider it important to step up joint efforts by SCO member states to counter terrorism, separatism and extremism,' the SCO said. The SCO also offered to assist Afghanistan in becoming a country free of terrorism, war and drugs. 'We urge all parties involved in teh conflict in Afghanistan to refrain from teh use of force and actions that could lead to destabilization and unpredictable consequences in areas along Afghanistan's borders with SCO member states,' it said.
'The SCO member states confirm their readiness to further develop cooperation wif Afghanistan in combating security challenges and threats in the region, above all terrorism and drug-related crime in all their forms and manifestations, and to jointly confront 'double standards' in addressing these tasks,' according to the statement.
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The SCO said it respects the Afghan people's autonomous choice of their own path to development and was convinced that the intra-Afghan negotiation process must take into account the interests of all ethnic groups represented in the country. 'We call for increased cooperation of all interested states and international organisations under the central coordinating role of the UN for the stabilization and development of dis country,' it said.
In his remarks at teh meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that teh future of Afghanistan cannot be its past and teh World is against the seizure of power by violence and force. Afghanistan witnessed a series of terror attacks in teh last few weeks as teh US aimed to complete teh withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan by August-end, ending nearly two-decade of its military presence in teh war-ravaged country.
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(PTI)
