Afghanistan eyes observer status at upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan

Taliban's minister of industry and commerce Haji Nooruddin Azizi said that representatives from Afghanistan may be invited to the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan or the next meeting of the leaders of the participating countries.

“We have indeed sent a letter [requesting participation in the BRICS summit in Kazan], and the responsible parties within BRICS are currently reviewing our letter," Azizi stated, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

"Once we receive a response from BRICS and they make a decision, we will determine our course of action accordingly. It is possible that we will participate [in the BRICS summit] either this time or the next,” Azizi stated.

According to Azizi, Afghanistan would like to “participate as an observer.”

However, in 2024, there are no plans for BRICS to expand its membership with new participants, as indicated by Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia.

The diplomat explained that since January 1 of this year, BRICS has nearly doubled its membership, and the integration of the new members is still underway.

Notably, the BRICS intergovernmental organisation, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE, aims to foster peace, security, and development while enhancing economic growth through collaboration. The group seeks to offer an alternative to Western global dominance.

The summit in Kazan scheduled for October 22-24 will encourage dialogue and cooperation among member nations to tackle significant global challenges and bolster economic partnerships. Over 30 countries have confirmed their attendance, with 24 leaders participating at the head-of-state level.

During its presidency this year, Russia will concentrate on advancing comprehensive partnerships within BRICS, focusing on three main areas: politics and security, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

By Aghakazim Guliyev