The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), during its summit in Budapest on May 21, issued a sharply worded statement condemning the deteriorating state of governance in Afghanistan and warning of the growing regional threats posed by unchecked terrorism and rampant drug trafficking emanating from the country.
In a declaration reflecting deep concern, OTS leaders criticized the lack of inclusive governance in Afghanistan, stating that the current political structure fails to represent the country’s diverse ethnic makeup and continues to marginalize vast segments of the population. The OTS emphasized that such exclusionary policies are fuelling instability, impeding national reconciliation, and risking long-term regional insecurity.
Calling Afghanistan a neighboring and fraternal nation with which the Turkic world shares centuries-old bonds of history, religion, and tradition, the OTS lamented the ongoing suppression of ethnic pluralism—especially of Turkic communities—under a regime that remains disconnected from the needs and aspirations of its people.
The statement reaffirmed the OTS’s respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity but insisted that these principles must not shield a system that disregards fundamental human rights and fails to engage its citizens in shaping the future. The leaders warned that the absence of representative governance has allowed extremist ideologies and illicit drug networks to thrive, posing a direct threat to regional peace and international security.
OTS member and observer states pledged to deepen coordination to confront the dual menace of terrorism and narcotics, and urged the international community to step up efforts to pressure Afghanistan’s de facto rulers into adopting a more inclusive, rights-based political order.
