Russia's special envoy for Afghanistan says opposition from a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has become the main obstacle to the Taliban's participation in the organization's meetings and activities.

Russia's special envoy for Afghanistan says opposition from a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has become the main obstacle to the Taliban's participation in the organization's meetings and activities.

Zamir Kabulov, in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper, said that decision-making in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is based on consensus, and that is why the process of considering the Taliban's presence has been stalled.

The newspaper reported that Pakistan is currently the main opponent of the Taliban's presence in the organization.

At the same time, some experts have criticized Russia's efforts to get closer to the Taliban, saying that this approach ignores the group's extensive restrictions on citizens, especially women and girls.