Russia and China call for urgent embrace of Taliban despite west's misgivings

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

61% : Induction into the SCO marks a major diplomatic achievement for Iran, which first sought to join the bloc the early 2000s but had hitherto only attained observer status.
55% : But Ms Graweski suggested Iran's accession to the SCO would deliver few material benefits for Iran.
55% : For Iran, it's more about status and the ability to engage with Central Asian states and China," she said.
50% : The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a trade and security alliance originally formed by China, Russia and some of the former Soviet Union states 20 years ago, also announced the induction of Iran into its fold as its ninth full-fledged member, a rebuff of United States-led efforts to isolate and pressure Tehran over its nuclear and missile programmes and support for armed groups in the Middle East.
40% : The SCO calls to release billions in international aid money and other support for the Taliban government contrasts with the overwhelming and active opposition by Russia, China, Iran, India and Central Asian nations to the fundamentalist Islamic group when it ruled a quarter century ago.

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