Assessments on the Cooperation between Afghanistan and the SCO

Afghanistan is present in the heart of South Asia and Central Asia. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which has established itself as an important hub for regional cooperation and coordination on particular prospects of economic and security policies, is a significant development in regional and international political development. The SCO has evolved into an essential platform for fostering stability, confidence-building, and economic development in the Central-South Asia region.

The positive developments among various fields can help develop Afghanistan’s regional status and promote closer ties with other member states. Afghanistan may have the chance to increase trade volume further through the SCO platform under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and by fostering infrastructure development for the facilitation of regional connectivity. The cooperation prospects between Afghanistan and SCO member states are high.

Afghanistan’s integration into the SCO’s regional economic framework would provide it with access to a larger market, investment opportunities, and trade facilitation. Cooperation with the SCO in the energy sector would allow Afghanistan to tap into regional energy resources and contribute to the fulfillment of its energy requirements. The SCO’s emphasis on connectivity, which aligns with Afghanistan, can enhance its vision to become a land bridge connecting Central and South Asia. Collaboration in transport infrastructure development would enhance regional connectivity and facilitate trade with neighbours and people-to-people contacts. This can open up new avenues for the prospects of economic integration and cultural exchange, fostering stability and prosperity in Afghanistan.

Through ‘trade, transportation, and investment’ in the Heart of Asia, Afghanistan has become a regional hub and economic crossroads. Afghanistan’s diplomatic and economic policies are primarily focused on “regional cooperation and economic convergence,” and Afghanistan’s active participation in the SCO would be an efficient way of working towards achieving these objectives.

Analysis written by Mr Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director, Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future, Islamabad