BEIJING: President Asif Ali Zardari  said that the Afghanistan issue could not be resolved militarily alone and that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) needed to expand its role in the region, DawnNews reported.

Addressing the SCO summit on Thursday, Zardari said that regional peace cannot be established without establishing peace in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani president further said that a political and economic path should be paved for the establishment of peace in Afghanistan.

Zardari added that Pakistan was proud of its involvement with the SCO and that Pakistan could play a key role in order to promote regional trade and cooperation.