Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Calls for Regional Coordination to Resolve Afghanistan Issues
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, highlighted the importance of the Moscow Format meetings in achieving regional consensus on Afghanistan during the Fourth Eurasian International Security Conference held on Tuesday, November 3, in Minsk, Belarus. He noted that the eighth Moscow Format meeting took place about a month ago in Moscow, with a high-level delegation from Kabul in attendance.
Lavrov described cooperation among regional countries as vital for advancing the resolution of Afghanistan’s issues, stressing that actors outside the region cannot replace regional mechanisms. He portrayed the Moscow Format as a platform for building regional consensus on Afghanistan’s security and stability matters.
The eighth Moscow Format meeting, held on October 5, 2026, included representatives from Afghanistan, Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asian countries. The Afghan delegation, led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, participated in discussions focused on political and economic cooperation, combating terrorism and narcotics, and strengthening regional relations.
However, differences of opinion between Afghan and Pakistani representatives regarding terrorism prevented the issuance of a joint final statement from the meeting. In other remarks, Lavrov emphasized the need to establish a joint security structure in Eurasia based on mutual respect and security guarantees. He also expressed Russia’s opposition to the presence of NATO military infrastructure in Afghanistan and its neighboring countries.
Lavrov’s recent statements indicate that Moscow continues to regard Afghanistan as a key component of its security policy and regional cooperation efforts in Eurasia.
