After Taliban takeover, concern rises over Afghanistan’s SAARC membership

Nature of new government in Kabul key to continued engagement, say diplomats

With uncertainty hanging over the international representation of Afghanistan under the Taliban, a question has risen over the membership of the country in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) which is next scheduled to meet in Islamabad. Veteran diplomats here observed that the fate of Afghanistan’s membership and even the future of SAARC to some extent depends on the Taliban creating an inclusive government. “The responsibility of inviting the member countries lies with the host which in this case is, Pakistan. After Tuesday’s meeting in Doha between , it appears South Block is not averse to revising its policy. So ultimately it depends on what kind of an inclusive government can Taliban create in Kabul,” said former Indian ambassador K.P. Fabian. Despite the Indo-Pakistan political problems that created a hurdle in the smooth functioning of the SAARC in recent years, the organisation’s members have maintained coordination in dealing with the pandemic. Pakistan, though not a beneficiary of India’s vaccine diplomacy, has participated in discussions on the pandemic at virtual events with SAARC members.