Shanghai Cooperation Organisation countries call for end to violence in Afghanistan

[July 14, 2021]    MOSCOW (Reuters) - The foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Wednesday called for an end to violence in Afghanistan against civilians and the authorities and urged the Afghan government to strengthen its position for the sake of stability.

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon and foreign ministers and officials of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) pose for a group photo during a meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan July 14, 2021. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

Senior Afghan leaders are expected to meet the Taliban for talks in Doha this week.

In a statement, the SCO foreign ministers called for a purely peaceful settlement.

(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

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