The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) convened its 19th annual meeting in Kazakhstan to address the surge in regional terrorism linked to the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan.
Member countries, including China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan, expressed deep concerns about terrorist groups exploiting Afghan territory.
The SCO called on the Taliban-led Afghan government to fulfill its anti-terrorism promises and adopt effective strategies. National security advisors stressed the urgent need to tackle international terrorist threats originating from Afghanistan.
Read more: ISIS-K's rise: Afghanistan's new terror battleground
The SCO's Security Council emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation to combat terrorism, organized crime, terrorist financing, and illegal migration. Members highlighted the risk posed by terrorist groups based in Afghanistan.
Repeated concerns have been voiced by SCO members and other international organizations about Afghanistan's role as a terrorist hub in recent years. The focus now shifts to whether the Afghan government will take concrete action to address these ongoing concerns. As the region grapples with the threat of terrorism, the world awaits decisive steps from Afghanistan.
