Russia hosted the eighth Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan on Monday (5 Oct), bringing together senior officials and special representatives from Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and other participating countries.
The consultations concluded without a joint statement after differences emerged between the Afghan and Pakistani delegations over the wording of the final document, particularly references linked to terrorism and security concerns. Russian officials said the sides were unable to reach consensus on the text.
Key developments included:
- Participants discussed regional cooperation, Afghanistan’s economic integration and humanitarian assistance.
- Officials called for continued humanitarian aid to the Afghan people without political conditions.
- Amir Khan Muttaqi said Afghanistan-Pakistan issues could be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy, amid ongoing bilateral tensions.
- Sergey Lavrov and Amir Khan Muttaqi held separate talks on bilateral cooperation and regional engagement.
The Moscow Format, established in 2016, remains a multilateral platform focused on Afghanistan-related security, economic and humanitarian issues.
The latest discussions took place amid continued tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly over cross-border security concerns, militant activity and disputes over responsibility for attacks originating from Afghan territory. Both sides have called for dialogue to address outstanding issues.
ℹ️ Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Reuters
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