KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to the security of Afghanistan, its neighbors, and the wider world, participants of the seventh Moscow Format Consultation on Afghanistan said in a joint statement released on Tuesday.
The meeting, held in Moscow on October 7, brought together senior representatives from ten regional countries, including Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The Taliban participated as an official member for the first time, led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. A delegation from Belarus attended as a guest.
In their statement, the participants called for coordinated regional efforts to prevent the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities. They urged support for the Taliban in implementing effective counterterrorism measures and reaffirmed their backing for the establishment of an “independent, united, and peaceful Afghanistan, free from terrorism and drugs.”
The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan has raised security concerns among neighboring countries and the international community, as terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda, ISIS-K, and the TTP, have regrouped and escalated their activities, posing serious threats to regional and global stability.
According to the statement, participants of the meeting called the establishment of foreign military bases in Afghanistan and neighboring countries “unacceptable,” saying it does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability. The remarks came amid comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Washington should reclaim Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base for counterterrorism purposes and due to its proximity to Chinese nuclear facilities, warning that “bad things” could happen if the Taliban did not agree.
The participants also reaffirmed their commitment to continuing humanitarian support for the people of Afghanistan and called on the international community to increase assistance “without politicization.” They emphasized that humanitarian aid should not be linked to political conditions and should be aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, including women and children.
They expressed readiness to expand regional investment and development projects involving Afghanistan, particularly in health, agriculture, poverty reduction, and disaster prevention.
The joint statement also noted that the participants supported “the active integration of Afghanistan into the system of regional connectivity” to enhance its participation in cross-border economic corridors and infrastructure initiatives.
The Moscow Format on Afghanistan, established in 2016, serves as a platform for regional powers to discuss political, security, and humanitarian issues in Afghanistan. Tuesday’s meeting was the seventh since its launch and marked the first time the Taliban attended as a formal participant since returning to power in 2021.
