ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq met counterparts from China, Iran, Russia, and Afghanistan in Moscow on Tuesday, reaffirming regional support for Afghanistan’s stability and urging enhanced cooperation on counterterrorism, the Russian Foreign Office announced.
The meeting was held under the 7th Moscow Format Consultation on Afghanistan, hosted by Russia and attended by special representatives and senior officials from Iran, India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, according to a joint statement issued after the talks.
Ambassador Sadiq led the Pakistani delegation, while Afghanistan’s interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi represented Kabul, marking the first time the Taliban government formally participated in the Moscow talks.
The joint communiqué described as “unacceptable” any attempts by external powers to deploy military infrastructure in Afghanistan, saying such moves were “not in the interests of regional peace and stability.”
All participants reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Afghanistan as an independent, united, and peaceful state, free from terrorism and foreign interference.
Ambassador Sadiq, posting on social media platform X, said the discussions reflected a shared vision for a “sovereign and stable Afghanistan that contributes to regional security.”
The statement emphasized the need for stronger bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism efforts, urging Afghanistan to take “concrete and urgent measures” to eliminate terrorist groups operating within its borders.
“The parties underscored that terrorism remains a grave threat to the security of Afghanistan, the region, and the wider world,” the communiqué said.
Delegates expressed concern over the continued presence of designated terrorist organizations including the TTP, BLA, ETIM, Jaish-e-Mohammed, ISIL, and Al-Qaeda, and called for greater coordination to neutralize these threats.
Participants also highlighted the importance of integrating Afghanistan into regional trade, investment, and connectivity frameworks, expressing interest in joint projects focused on healthcare, agriculture, poverty alleviation, and disaster management.
Reaffirming humanitarian solidarity, the statement urged the international community to increase emergency assistance for the Afghan people and to fulfill commitments toward Afghanistan’s economic recovery and development, particularly by nations “responsible for the country’s current predicament.”
