FM stresses Afghanistan’s SCO full membership

KABUL (Agencies): Addressing ambassadors of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, Minister of Foreign Affairs Salahuddin Rabbani called on members support of Afghanistan’s bid for full membership.

FM Rabbani said with SCO membership, Afghanistan will be able to contribute to the members’ efforts to further enhance regional economic and security cooperation.” Highlighting Afghanistan’s geographical importance FM Rabbani said as the Heart of Asia, Afghanistan was a natural land-bridge in the SCO region, connecting the member states with each other and providing land routes for goods from East Asia to Europe, as well as serving as a hub for the Silk Road’s trade and transit routes.

He added Connectivity could improve regional economic cooperation, spurring economic growth and development of the region for integration. “In the coming year, we look forward to achieving full membership of the SCO, on which we need the support of all of you, as you rendered such support to India and Pakistan, which acquired full membership in 2017,” he said.

“With these potentials for security and economic cooperation in mind, I renew our call for your kind support to expedite Afghanistan’s full membership of the SCO, “he said. Referring to the war against terrorism he said, “Our region is facing numerous security challenges.  Terrorism remains our primary concern, as the Afghan people have borne the brunt of attacks by terrorist networks, which continue to find easy and safe havens in the region.” “That is why we must cooperate under the SCO umbrella to flight this transnational menace,” he stressed.

“I am confident that our full membership in the SCO would enable us to do more, working with others more closely to achieve the intended goals of the RATS against the common security threats facing the SCO member states,” he believed.