Afghanistan-Pakistan Tensions to Be Discussed at Moscow Format Meeting
The eighth consultative meeting of the Moscow Format on Afghanistan is due to be held on Sunday in the Russian capital. Recent tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are also expected to be discussed at the meeting.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry, which is hosting the meeting, said special representatives from regional countries and senior officials of the Taliban administration will discuss political and economic cooperation, Afghanistan’s security situation, and strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.
A Taliban delegation headed by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the administration, will take part in the meeting. Muttaqi is also scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the gathering to discuss bilateral cooperation.
Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special presidential representative for Afghanistan, told Izvestia newspaper that Russia wants to use the Moscow Format to help the two sides reach a reasonable agreement. He said the issue of tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan will certainly be raised at the meeting.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said participants will issue a joint statement after the meeting. Consultative meetings of the Moscow Format on Afghanistan began in 2017 and were created for regional consultations on Afghanistan’s political, security and economic issues.
