Moscow – Regional powers concluded the 7th meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan in October 2025, issuing a joint statement that strongly emphasized the need for Afghanistan’s economic integration and immediate, verifiable action against all terrorist groups operating within its borders.
The high-level gathering, which included special representatives and senior officials from Afghanistan, Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Iran, and four Central Asian states, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, was notable for the first-time participation of the Afghan delegation, led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaqi, as a full member.
Unwavering Support and Economic Demands
The attending parties unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to seeing Afghanistan established as an “independent, united and peaceful state.”
Participants called for the development of economic and trade exchanges, as well as investment cooperation between Afghanistan, regional nations, and the wider international community. Specifically, the statement backed the promotion of regional economic projects and “the active integration of Afghanistan into the system of regional connectivity.”
In a direct message to Western powers, the parties “urged the countries mainly responsible for the current predicament in Afghanistan to earnestly fulfil commitments on the economic recovery and future development of Afghanistan.”
They also reiterated their shared opposition to the politicization of essential humanitarian aid, calling on the international community to intensify its provision of emergency assistance.
Hardline Stance on Counterterrorism
A central theme of the joint statement was the urgent and escalating threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.
The joint statement called for strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation and emphasized that Afghanistan must be supported in undertaking “comprehensive measures aimed at the elimination of terrorism and its eradication within a short timeframe.” The set objective is clear: to ensure that “Afghan soil is not used as a threat to the security of the neighbouring countries and beyond.”
The participating nations also issued a strong geopolitical warning against the US’s claim of regaining Bagram airbase, calling “the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states ” unacceptable, arguing that such moves do not serve the interests of regional peace and stability.
Pakistan’s Call for Action Against Cross-Border Attacks
In a separate statement delivered at the consultations, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Muhammad Sadiq, detailed the country’s specific security concerns.
Pakistan noted a recent “upsurge in terrorist attacks from across the border” by groups including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and their affiliates.
The statement stressed the imperative to neutralize all terrorist groups operating in and from Afghanistan, citing IS-KP, Al-Qaida, ETIM, and others, alongside the groups targeting Pakistan.
The Pakistani representative highlighted that while the region must step forward to address Afghanistan’s challenges, the Afghan authorities “must also act on the legitimate concerns of the neighbouring countries.”
Pakistan explicitly called for the Afghan authorities to “condemn these attacks in Pakistan and address the issue of terrorism decisively,” stating that credible and verifiable action is essential for securing a durable peace.
The meeting underlined a regional consensus that Afghanistan stands at a “critical juncture,” facing “crippling sanctions, banking restrictions, unemployment, poverty, and a humanitarian crisis.”
