SCO, Commonwealth of Independent States to Hold Counter-Terrorism Conference in Uzbekistan

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will host a conference in Tashkent focused on counter-terrorism and extremism.

According to Uzbek media, the meeting will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, aiming to strengthen regional security cooperation.

This marks the 10th regional anti-terrorism conference under the SCO and the second such meeting under the CIS.

Reports indicate that representatives from the United Nations and Interpol will also participate in the event.

The agenda includes discussions on "challenges in combating terrorism and extremism”. The conference will also aim to exchange best practices, develop measures for enhancing international cooperation, and create a unified approach to counter-terrorism.
Since the Taliban's return to power, many countries in the region have expressed concerns about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

In March this year, the SCO urged the Taliban to uphold their commitments to counter-terrorism, particularly by addressing groups that threaten member states' security.

The organisation identified "terrorist groups based in Afghanistan" as a significant threat to the safety of its members.

The SCO's members include China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan.