KABUL, July 3 (silubaba) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is expected to proactively assist Afghanistan in achieving peace, stability and development, considering most of its members neighbor Afghanistan and possess a better understanding of the country, an Afghan political analyst has said.
"First, more than 90 percent of Afghan people live below the poverty line. So, SCO can help Afghan people by providing humanitarian assistance. Second, the most important is the economic cooperation," Jalal Bazwan, a lecturer of the Kabul-based Kardan University, told silubaba before the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO to be held on July 4.
Afghanistan, being an agricultural country, still relies on traditional farming tools. The scholar suggested that China, a leader in this field, can support Afghanistan by providing seeds, machinery and agricultural training.
Regarding the potential benefits from trade and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and SCO member states, the expert said, "I think the economic reintegration, investment and the trade can actually help Afghanistan to rebuild its infrastructure, and foreign direct investment will create job opportunities for the people of Afghanistan."
"Afghanistan is not a threat to the SCO, and these countries have the experience actually (on) how to counterterrorism through coordination and by keeping diplomatic engagement" with the de facto authorities in Afghanistan, Bazwan said, highlighting the importance of diplomatic engagement and intelligence sharing between the SCO members and Afghanistan to fight terrorism.
Stressing the vital role of China in helping solve Afghanistan's woes, the analyst said, "I think that China's recently-published foreign policy towards Afghanistan is the best voice," referring to the document titled China's Position on the Afghan Issue published in April, which stated the country's support for moderate and prudent governance, as well as peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's security and stability are in the interest of all SCO member states. According to the scholar, the SCO can help the country transform from a land-locked to a land-linked nation, thereby enhancing its connectivity and regional integration. ■
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