The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting will begin tomorrow without the presence of a representative from the Islamic Emirate.
Following the absence of an invitation to the caretaker government, the Islamic Emirate has stated that efforts are being made to ensure that a representative of the caretaker government will attend future meetings of the organization.
Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said that the caretaker government has close relations with the member countries of the SCO and is working to participate in the organization's future meetings.
Fitrat said: "Afghanistan is an observer member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Islamic Emirate has constructive relations with SCO members through bilateral mechanisms. Contacts and communications are ongoing in this regard, and we hope to make progress in this area in the future."
Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, said that due to the suspension of Afghanistan's observer status in the SCO, the caretaker government of Afghanistan was not invited to this meeting.
Dar further stated that Pakistan cannot make decisions on this matter alone, as the decision was made by SCO member states.
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said: "As far as Afghanistan is concerned, although it was not a permanent member, it had observer status in the organization since 2021; however, its observer membership has been suspended since 2021. From that year onwards, they have not been invited to the meetings. So Pakistan alone cannot decide on this."
"The strategic objectives of the SCO in the region are against NATO, and it is often referred to as the 'Eastern NATO.' The organization's strategy is to reduce the influence of the US and the West in the region," said Fazl Rahman Orya, a political analyst.
The 23rd SCO meeting is scheduled to begin tomorrow (Tuesday) in Islamabad and will last for two days.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has 9 members, and three other countries -- Mongolia, Afghanistan and Belarus -- are observer members.
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