Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan End Without Joint Statement
Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan End Without Joint Statement
The 8th Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan ended in Moscow on Monday with no joint statement, after Pakistan and Afghanistan failed to agree on terrorism language in the final document.
Delegates had been expected to issue a joint communique at the close of the one-day meeting on October 5. Instead, the session ended with no agreed text, possibly a first for the format.
Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told reporters that Moscow regretted the impasse. “When drafting the final joint statement, we encountered one problem, that problem was that our Afghan and Pakistani colleagues didn’t see eye to eye,” he said.
Moscow Format: what broke the consensus
The disagreement centred on draft references to terrorism in the context of Afghanistan. The Afghan delegation objected to wording that placed Afghanistan in a terrorist context, while Pakistan insisted the text reflect its position that attacks against it continue to emanate from Afghan soil.
Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, told the meeting that Islamabad wanted peace and stability and had pursued political and diplomatic engagement with the Taliban leadership on terrorism. “Pakistan desires peace and stability in the region and has remained patiently engaged in political and diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. However, it is unfortunate that Pakistan’s numerous goodwill gestures and highly responsible approach were misconstrued, resulting in increased terrorist attacks from Afghan soil, with the active support and backing of the Taliban Regime,” he said.
Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who led his delegation, pushed back. He criticised Pakistan’s statements and actions, accusing Islamabad of using military pressure, refugees, students and transit routes as tools of coercion, while insisting the disputes could be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
Lavrov opened the session with a warning on NATO
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered the opening remarks. He endorsed the Taliban authorities’ performance and warned against NATO establishing military infrastructure in Afghanistan or neighbouring countries.
The consultations brought together special envoys and senior officials from Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Belarus and Egypt attended as guest delegations. The format dates back to 2016-17 as a regional platform on Afghanistan.
What happens next
Kabulov said the failure to agree on a statement would not end the Moscow Format process. He added that Russia was ready to help de-escalate the Pakistan-Afghanistan dispute. “Russia is ready to assist in ending this conflict in any possible, permissible way either on its own or in partnership with our other partners provided that both sides make such a request. We are ready to provide the maximum possible assistance,” he said. He stressed, however, that settling bilateral disputes was not the purpose of the format.
No date or venue was announced for the next edition of the consultations.
In a related development on Monday, the International Criminal Court unsealed arrest warrants for two Afghan ministers, Habibullah Agha and Neda Mohammad Nadeem, over gender-based persecution, including barring girls from schooling beyond the primary level. The warrants were issued in September 2025 but remained sealed until now, and follow earlier ICC warrants for the Taliban’s top leadership.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Moscow Format?
The Moscow Format is a regional consultation mechanism on Afghanistan established by Russia in 2016-17. It brings together Afghanistan’s neighbours and regional powers to discuss security, terrorism, narcotics, economic cooperation and the country’s political future.
Why was there no joint statement this time?
The participants could not agree on the final text because of a dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan over terrorism and counterterrorism language. The Afghan side objected to references placing Afghanistan in a terrorist context.
Who represented Pakistan and Afghanistan at the meeting?
Pakistan’s delegation was led by Special Representative Mohammad Sadiq, while the Afghan Taliban delegation was led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Russia’s presidential envoy Zamir Kabulov also played a central role, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov opened the session.
Which countries attended the consultations?
Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan sent special envoys and senior officials, with Belarus and Egypt attending as guest delegations.
