Kazakhstan’s President Addresses Regional Threats

In preparation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana later this year, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with security council secretaries of SCO member states: China, Russia, India, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. In his speech on April 3rd, the president began by reiterating the fact that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization had been created to ensure stability and security in the region by curbing the ‘three forces of evil’: terrorism, separatism, and extremism: “These threats - are being transformed, acquiring new severity. We, in turn, need more systematic and decisive responses. We must not allow manifestations of terrorism, extremism, and separatism to be used to undermine internal stability in our states. Countering the ‘three forces of evil,’ as well as transnational organized crime, drug trafficking and cybersecurity challenges, is one of the priorities of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the SCO.” He continued by stating the need for an SCO Cooperation Program to counter terrorism, separatism, and extremism for 2025-2027, and the adoption of the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024-2029. Turning to the situation in Afghanistan, the Kazakh president advised that SCO members paid due attention to developments to prevent the use of its territory by international terrorist groups. He also stressed the importance of continued efforts to alleviate the country’s humanitarian crisis and create conditions for its long-term stabilization. Emphasis was also placed on conflict in the Middle East which remains a serious factor in undermining security: “Its tragic consequences were felt by civilians. Irreparable damage has been caused to regional stability. High-level diplomacy is needed to prevent further escalation. I firmly believe that our organization, representing half the world’s population, can offer a formula for a safe and just world.”