New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) A four-day meeting of counter-terrorism experts from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries, including a three-member team from Pakistan, began in the Indian capital on Monday to deliberate on ways to enhance cooperation in combating regional security challenges, with a special focus on Afghanistan.The meeting is taking place under the framework of the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). India is the current chair of the executive council of SCO RATS.
Afghanistan envoy to India, Farid Mamundzay, thanked India for hosting the key meeting.
“I thank India for hosting the key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) anti-terror body Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in New Delhi today. The security & humanitarian situation has worsened in Afghanistan over the past nine months.
“We expect this meeting to raise and propose solutions to all important issues related to the security situation in Afghanistan.
“Sincere regional security cooperation particularly from neighboring countries is the only way forward for peace & development in Afghanistan and in the region,” he tweeted.
The meeting in New Delhi began at 9 am. A three-member inter-ministerial delegation from Pakistan is taking part in the meeting. The Pakistan team reached India via the Wagah border crossing on Saturday.
While Afghanistan is the top agenda for the meet, the activities of the ISIS-Khorasan terror group are also a top security concern. The outfit has claimed attacks in Pakistan and against Uzbekistan and Tajikistan recently.
The member states of the SCO are Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan is among the observer states of the SCO.
The Chinese and Russian sides are believed to be represented from their respective embassies in India.
India assumed the chairmanship of the Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO (RATS SCO) last year in October for a period of one year.
India had hosted a National Security Advisors-level regional dialogue on Afghanistan in November last year, that was attended by the security chiefs of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, while Pakistan and China declined from attending.
