Afghanistan condemns SCO exclusion from the Moscow summit on Monday, as the Taliban protests the snub that sidelined the country from key discussions on security and trade. Hosted by Russia, the event drew leaders from nine member states but omitted Afghan representatives due to unresolved recognition issues.
This development underscores the precarious position of the Taliban administration three years after taking power. Afghanistan’s absence from the SCO framework not only limits its voice in Eurasian affairs but also exacerbates vulnerabilities in counter-terrorism efforts and economic connectivity across South Asia. Neighbouring nations like Pakistan and India, both SCO members, face spillover risks from Afghan instability, including refugee flows and militant cross-border activities. The snub signals a collective stance among members to pressure Kabul on human rights and governance reforms, potentially stalling regional initiatives vital for over 2.5 billion people in the bloc.
Taliban Protests SCO Moscow Summit Snub
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Prime Ministers’ Summit in Moscow highlighted fractures in regional diplomacy. Afghanistan, an observer state since 2017, received no invitation despite its strategic location bridging South and Central Asia. Officials cited the lack of broad international recognition for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as the primary barrier.
In response, Taliban spokespersons decried the decision as counterproductive to collective security goals. This protest aligns with previous grievances, where Kabul has argued that sidelining Afghanistan weakens efforts against groups like the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), responsible for 1,200 attacks in 2024 alone, per UN data.
Russia, as host, maintained pragmatic ties with the Taliban, including wheat shipments worth USD 60 million in 2025. Yet, no SCO communique addressed Afghan inclusion, focusing instead on trade volumes projected to reach USD 500 billion by 2030 among members. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, attending the summit, emphasised bilateral channels with Kabul but avoided public comment on the exclusion.
The Taliban’s protest extends to broader forums. In a recent press briefing, Foreign Minister Muttaqi stated that Afghanistan demands SCO inclusion 2025 to foster stability. “Our exclusion isolates us from mechanisms essential for regional peace,” he said, according to TOLO News reports. This stance reflects frustration over similar snubs at the BRICS summit and UN General Assembly sidelines.
Afghanistan Demands SCO Inclusion 2025
Kabul’s push for full SCO membership dates back to 2021, post-Taliban takeover. As an observer, Afghanistan has participated in working groups on narcotics and disaster management but lacks voting rights or summit access. The 2025 demand carries urgency, with Taliban officials linking inclusion to eased sanctions and frozen assets totalling USD 7 billion.
Secondary sources confirm the Taliban’s diplomatic outreach. A press release from the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged members to reconsider, highlighting contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative, where Afghan corridors could boost trade by 15 per cent. China, a key SCO player and Taliban backer, hosted trilateral talks with Pakistan in July 2025, yielding agreements on border security but no SCO breakthrough.
India, another member, expressed reservations, citing human rights concerns. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar noted at the summit that “inclusivity must align with universal values.” This divide complicates Afghanistan’s bid, as consensus rules SCO decisions.
Data from the Asian Development Bank shows exclusion hampers projects like the CASA-1000 energy line, valued at USD 1.2 billion, which relies on Afghan transit. Taliban protests SCO Moscow summit snub emphasise that such barriers fuel economic contraction, with GDP shrinking 2.5 per cent in 2024.
Regional Impact Afghanistan SCO Exclusion
The ripple effects of Afghanistan condemns SCO exclusion span South Asia profoundly. Pakistan reports 500,000 Afghan refugees straining resources, while cross-border incidents rose 20 per cent in 2025, per Islamabad’s interior ministry. India faces heightened threats from ISKP affiliates, prompting USD 100 million in border fencing upgrades.
Central Asian states, SCO heartlands, worry over drug trafficking routes through Afghanistan, carrying 90 per cent of global opium. Exclusion delays joint patrols and intelligence sharing, per a 2025 Eurasianet analysis. Iran’s attendance at Moscow underscored shared concerns, with Tehran advocating conditional engagement.
Economically, the snub deters investment. Foreign direct inflows to Afghanistan plummeted to USD 50 million in 2024 from USD 200 million pre-2021, World Bank figures show. Afghanistan demands SCO inclusion 2025 could unlock access to the bloc’s USD 3 trillion market, easing humanitarian crises affecting 24 million Afghans.
Critics argue the Taliban’s governance, including restrictions on women, justifies caution. Yet, proponents like Russia warn that isolation breeds extremism. The Moscow summit adopted a declaration on counter-terrorism, implicitly urging Afghan cooperation outside formal ties.
Background
Afghanistan joined SCO as an observer in 2017 under the Ghani administration, aiming to counterbalance NATO influence. Post-2021, the Taliban’s de facto control shifted dynamics. Moscow hosted extended talks in October 2025 on Afghan stability, inviting Taliban delegates alongside China and Pakistan. These “Moscow Format” consultations yielded a joint statement affirming non-interference but stopped short of recognition.
Previous SCO summits, like Astana 2024, similarly excluded Kabul, prompting quiet diplomacy. The 2025 Tianjin heads-of-state meeting in September followed suit, focusing on digital economy without Afghan input.
What’s Next
Prospects for Afghanistan demands SCO inclusion 2025 hinge on Astana’s next council meeting in spring. Taliban envoys plan bilateral lobbies in Beijing and Islamabad. Regional impact Afghanistan SCO exclusion may prompt alternative forums, like the Heart of Asia process, to bridge gaps.
As tensions simmer, the Taliban’s resolve tests SCO’s unity. Afghanistan condemns SCO exclusion not as defeat but catalyst for reform, potentially reshaping South Asian geopolitics.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, November 19th, 2025
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