Afghanistan can become SCO-member in the long run, experts’ appraisal

Almaty. April 22. Silkroadnews – Afghanistan can become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the long term, Stanislav Chernyavsky, Director of the Center for Post-Soviet Studies at the MGIMO, says, Afghan news agency (AfTAG) reports.

“Afghanistan has a real chance to become a full member of the SCO in the long term,” noted in his report Stanislav Chernyavsky at the international forum held in Sochi with participation of representatives from more than 25 countries.

He also expressed an opinion that in case the status of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is upgraded within the SCO, the latter would take responsibility to maintain the security and rebuild the country.

At the same time, the representatives of the official structures speaking at the conference were quite skeptical about Afghanistan’s prospects to get the full membership in the SCO this year, pointing out that the Organization’s plans for the future assume upgrading the status of Pakistan and India.

Now, along with these states, Afghanistan has the observer status at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It is worth noting that earlier the spokesman for the country’s foreign ministry Faramarz Taman said all the obstacles preventing his country’s entry in the SCO have been removed.