Moscow, Russia:
Pakistan, alongside China, Russia, and Iran, reaffirmed a staunch commitment to a “stable and peaceful” Afghanistan during a quadrilateral meeting in Moscow on Tuesday. The four regional powers also voiced acute concern over the “presence of terrorists” operating within the country.
This high-level coordination precedes the 7th meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, scheduled for later today. The broader forum is set to include representatives from ten regional countries, including India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Pakistan’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq Khan, detailed the discussions on X, stating, “The participating states unanimously reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to a stable, sovereign, and peaceful Afghanistan, underscoring the necessity of a country free from the scourge of terrorism and external intervention.”
Addressing shared regional security fears, the envoy confirmed that the four nations agreed on “enhanced coordination and collaborative action” to fight against terrorism across the region.
Bilateral Engagements on Counterterrorism and Stability
In addition to the quad meeting, Envoy Khan held separate bilateral meetings with his Chinese and Iranian counterparts to discuss critical issues spanning regional security, counterterrorism cooperation, and humanitarian concerns in Afghanistan.
With Iranian counterpart Muhammad Reza Bahrami, Khan held “in-depth discussions on the latest developments in Afghanistan,” particularly focusing on terrorism. Both sides “emphasised the importance of continued dialogue and coordination to address common challenges.”
Similarly, in a meeting with China’s Yue Xiaoyong, the two countries stressed the “importance of a coordinated approach to promote lasting peace and stability in the region,” underscoring the strong partnership between Islamabad and Beijing in advancing regional development. Khan also held discussions with his Russian counterpart, Zamir Kabulov, focusing on measures to promote regional cooperation in Afghanistan.
Taliban Participation in Moscow Format
The main event today will feature Afghanistan’s representation by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who arrived in Moscow on Monday. This marks a significant diplomatic moment, as the deputy spokesperson for the Afghan foreign minister, Hafiz Zia Takkal, noted: “This marks the first time the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s foreign minister is participating in the Moscow Format as an official member.”
Muttaqi is expected to present Afghanistan’s position on enhancing relations with the broader region. He is also scheduled to hold a separate, closed-door meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to focus on current bilateral cooperation.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the format’s priority will be “promoting Afghan national reconciliation and expanding practical cooperation between regional states and Kabul in the political, economic, counter-terrorism, and anti-drug fields.” Previous meetings of the Moscow Format have consistently urged the Afghan government to take “viable and verifiable actions” to fulfill international obligations to fight terrorism and prevent the use of Afghan territory against its neighbours. Pakistan has been an active member of the Moscow Format Consultations since its inception in 2016.
