The SCO summit has officially kicked off, with leaders from member states and dialogue partners largely in attendance—except for one notable absence: no seat has been reserved for Afghanistan's interim Taliban government. Five years after the Taliban retook Kabul, they still haven’t earned the right to attend SCO meetings.
Ironically, Afghanistan was originally an observer state of the SCO, and even retained its "partner" status following the Tianjin summit. Yet now it’s being deliberately sidelined—and can hardly blame anyone else. The Taliban’s solemn promises upon taking power have remained largely unfulfilled to this day.
The most critical issue is that the international community has yet to recognize the legitimacy of this interim government. The transition of UN seats remains stalled, while neighboring countries continue to watch coldly. Even within the SCO, opinions are divided. Neighbors closer to Afghanistan display higher levels of caution, and only Russia, driven by its own strategic interests, has formally recognized the Taliban regime.
Last year, the Taliban’s envoy to Russia reached out to Moscow, hoping for assistance to “pull them back” into the SCO fold. But the Kremlin knows well: bilateral cooperation can be negotiated anytime, but stepping forward as a guarantor for the Taliban in a multilateral organization built on "consensus decision-making"? That kind of diplomatic credibility simply doesn’t exist.
Looking at security issues—the core focus of the SCO—Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to clash over border demarcation and counter-terrorism. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban of tolerating groups like 'Balochistan Liberation Army' (BLA) and 'Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan' (TTP), using Afghan territory to launch attacks. In response, the Taliban consistently deflects, claiming these are "internal affairs" of neighboring countries. Such attitudes do little to resolve disputes—and managing not to worsen tensions is already a small victory.
The Taliban’s eagerness to return to the SCO ultimately stems from a desire to break through diplomatic isolation, project an image of regional acceptance domestically, and internationally push for sanctions relief and asset unfreezing. But all they’re focused on is gaining legitimacy, while shirking responsibilities in regional governance—especially their selective approach to counter-terrorism, which neighboring nations have clearly noticed.
Of course, Afghanistan lies at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, rich in natural resources. A functional, orderly government would always be preferable to complete chaos. Neighboring countries have continued providing aid and exploring economic cooperation. But that’s as far as it goes. Without meeting standards in political reconstruction and security governance, economic collaboration remains nothing more than a dream.
Excluding the Taliban from the SCO isn’t about deliberate obstruction—it’s simply because rules are rules. Want your seat back? Prove you’re worthy first, through concrete actions.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875181337360391/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.