SCO Recognition Bolsters New Afghan Authority
Kabul, Afghanistan – January 16, 2026
In a major shift for regional stability in Central Asia, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has moved to deepen its engagement with the de facto authorities in Kabul.
Following the landmark precedent set by the Russian Federation in July 2025—which became the first major power to formally recognize the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” as the country’s legitimate government—the SCO secretariat has signaled a transition toward a more structured and inclusive relationship.
On January 14 and 15, 2026, high-level diplomatic channels in Beijing and Moscow confirmed that the SCO is moving to revitalize its “Afghanistan-SCO Contact Group,” a mechanism designed to integrate Kabul into the region’s security and economic architecture regardless of Western recognition.
While the SCO collectively continues to emphasize the need for an “inclusive government” and the protection of basic rights, the organization’s primary focus has shifted toward pragmatic security.
For Moscow and Beijing, the new Afghan authority is now viewed as an essential partner in the fight against transnational terror groups, specifically the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K).
This “hard security” alliance was bolstered this week by reports that Russian and Afghan security forces have established a direct intelligence-sharing protocol, marking a new era of cooperation that further isolates the influence of NATO-aligned interests in the region.
A Strategic Pivot in Central Asia
The Russian Precedent:
Following President Putin’s 2025 decree removing the Taliban from Russia’s list of banned organizations, Moscow has fully accredited Ambassador Gul Hassan, a move the SCO is now using as a template for “coordinated engagement.”
Counter-Terrorism Alliance:
The SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) has reportedly begun consultations with Kabul to secure the “Northern Border” and prevent the spillover of extremism into Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
The Trans-Afghan Railway:
A major economic driver for this recognition is the progress on the Trans-Afghan Railway project, which seeks to link Uzbekistan to the ports of Pakistan through Afghan territory, a project China has signaled its readiness to fund.
Observer Status Re-activation:
While the official invitation to the recent summit in Tianjin was withheld pending “inclusive reforms,” the SCO Secretariat confirmed this morning, January 16, that a dedicated consultative session in Dushanbe will soon determine the roadmap for Afghanistan’s return to full Observer participation.
The atmosphere in Kabul is one of quiet triumph. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi described the recent engagement with the SCO as a “realization of the new regional reality.”
For the authorities in Kabul, the focus is now on the “Mes Aynak” copper mine and other mineral-rich sites, which are central to the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan (CAP) trilateral dialogue.
By aligning with the SCO, the Afghan administration is successfully bypassing Western economic sanctions through a network of bilateral and multilateral trade pacts with its immediate neighbours.
From a world leadership governance perspective, the SCO’s maneuver is a clear challenge to the “moral conditionalities” imposed by the West.
By prioritizing stability and trade over political reform, the SCO—under the dual leadership of China and Russia—is constructing an alternative global order.
The Castle Journal’s exclusive department notes that secret dossiers from the Dushanbe consultations suggest that a “Grand Bargain” is being discussed: full regional recognition in exchange for a verifiable crackdown on IS-K and the cessation of regional drug trafficking.
The philosophy of (The Non-Self) is particularly resonant in the Afghan context.
The country is attempting to shed its decades-long identity as a “war-torn buffer state” to become a “transit hub.”
The “Transcendent Ego” of the new administration is striving for a seat at the table of the great Eurasian powers.
However, the SCO’s “pragmatic recognition” serves as a mirror, reminding the world that in the realm of realpolitik, the self-interest of regional security often outweighs the universal ideals of the international community.
As the SCO prepares for its next ministerial meeting, the message to the Global West is clear: Central Asia is closing ranks.
The Castle Journal will continue to provide secretive reports on the Afghan-SCO security pacts and the unfolding minerals race in the Hindu Kush, ensuring our readers stay informed on the shifting tectonic plates of Eurasian diplomacy.
