STORY: SCO plays active role in stabilizing Afghanistan, says scholar
DATELINE: July 3, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:04
LOCATION: Kabul
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of SCO
2. various of street views in Afghanistan
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JALAL BAZWAN, Lecturer of Kabul-based Kardan University
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JALAL BAZWAN, Lecturer of Kabul-based Kardan University
5. various of street views in China
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JALAL BAZWAN, Lecturer of Kabul-based Kardan University

STORYLINE:

An Afghan political analyst has said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is expected to proactively assist Afghanistan in achieving peace, stability and development, considering most of its members neighbor Afghanistan and possess a better understanding of the country.

Jalal Bazwan, a lecturer of the Kabul-based Kardan University, made the remarks before the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO to be held on July 4.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JALAL BAZWAN, Lecturer of Kabul-based Kardan University
"More than 90 percent of Afghan people are living below the poverty line. So, I think, first of all, SCO can help Afghan people by providing humanitarian assistance to these people. Second, the most important is the economic cooperation.
I think the economic reintegration, investment and the trade can help Afghanistan to rebuild its infrastructure and foreign direct investment will create job opportunities for the people of Afghanistan."

Bazwan also highlighted the importance of diplomatic engagement and intelligence sharing between the SCO members and Afghanistan to fight terrorism.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JALAL BAZWAN, Lecturer of Kabul-based Kardan University
"Afghanistan is not a threat to the SCO, and these countries have the experience actually (on) how to counter terrorism by staying in coordination and by keeping diplomatic engagement with the de facto government of Afghanistan, which can help to deter terrorism by sharing all those intelligence as well as sharing their experiences because some of the SCO member countries actually know how to counter terrorism."

Referring to a document titled China's Position on the Afghan Issue published in April, the analyst stressed the vital role of China in helping solve Afghanistan's woes.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JALAL BAZWAN, Lecturer of Kabul-based Kardan University
"The best solution is with China, with the SCO. China's recently-published foreign policy towards Afghanistan is the best voice."

The document stated China's support for moderate and prudent governance, as well as peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kabul.
(XHTV)