The six-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has invited India to attend an international conference on Afghanistan to be held in Moscow on March 27, according to a report by local daily the Asian Age on Saturday.

SCO secretary-general Bolat Nurgaliev Friday held talks with Indian defense and security analysts in New Delhi and called on India to contribute to the success of the conference, which he hoped would "frankly discuss the situation in Afghanistan and its influence on neighboring states," according to the report.

"India had an important role to play in strengthening the SCO. We respect India's peaceful foreign policy. We share common positions on many issues. India has good relations with all SCO members and the prospects for future relations are very bright," the report quoted Nurgaliev as saying.

The Russian diplomat also said that the Iranian nuclear issue should not be solved with the use of force or the threat of use of force, and called on the international community to "involve ( Iran) and not isolate it," said the report.

Russia is the current rotating chair of the SCO which includes China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrghyz Republic and Tajikistan. India holds observer status at SCO.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2009)