KABUL — Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi traveled to Russia on Monday to participate in the seventh meeting of the Moscow Format, a regional platform focused on Afghanistan’s political and security situation.
According to Zia Ahmad Takal, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, Muttaqi will present the group’s position on strengthening Afghanistan’s relations with neighboring and regional countries.
This marks the first time the Taliban foreign minister is attending the Moscow Format as an official member. The group had previously joined the discussions as a guest participant.
Russian media reported that Muttaqi is expected to hold a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the event.
The Moscow Format was established in 2016 as a regional diplomatic initiative bringing together countries including Russia, Iran, Pakistan, China, India, and Central Asian republics to coordinate on Afghanistan-related matters such as counterterrorism, narcotics trafficking, and humanitarian issues.
The previous round of talks, held in October 2024, concluded with joint calls urging the Taliban to take concrete action against terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan and to uphold the rights of all Afghans, including women and ethnic minorities.
Russia remains the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban government since their return to power in August 2021, while most other nations have stopped short of granting official recognition despite maintaining varying levels of diplomatic engagement.
Regional countries, particularly Russia, Iran, and China, have continued to seek stability in Afghanistan through dialogue with the Taliban amid growing concerns over cross-border militancy and the humanitarian crisis that has deepened under the group’s rule.
