Moscow, October 7, 2025: Pakistan and other regional powers on Tuesday urged Afghanistan to take “comprehensive measures” to eliminate terrorism from its territory and prevent its use as a base for threats against neighboring countries, according to a joint statement issued after the latest round of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan.
The seventh meeting of the forum, held in the Russian capital, gathered special representatives and senior officials from Pakistan, China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. An Afghan delegation led by interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi participated as a full member for the first time.
Pakistan’s engagement in the talks comes amid heightened tensions with the Taliban administration over a surge in militant attacks, which Islamabad claims are being orchestrated from Afghan soil. Kabul, however, denies backing militant groups.
Despite these strains, Pakistan has maintained diplomatic channels with the Taliban government since its return to power in August 2021. Islamabad’s embassy in Kabul remains operational, and high-level exchanges have continued, including recent trilateral meetings with China to discuss extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan and improving regional connectivity.
“The parties emphasized that Afghanistan should be supported to undertake comprehensive measures aimed at the elimination of terrorism and its eradication within a short timeframe so that Afghan soil is not used as a threat to the security of neighboring countries and beyond,” the joint communiqué stated.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to an “independent, united, and peaceful Afghanistan,” calling for enhanced regional cooperation on counterterrorism, humanitarian relief, and economic stability.
The statement noted that member states expressed readiness to deepen trade, investment, and development ties with Afghanistan in sectors including agriculture, healthcare, and poverty reduction, while supporting its integration into regional connectivity frameworks.
The forum also urged continued international humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people and rejected “attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighboring states,” warning that such actions would undermine regional peace and stability.
Established in 2017, the Moscow Format remains one of the key regional mechanisms for dialogue on Afghanistan, providing a platform for neighboring states and major stakeholders to coordinate policy on security, development, and humanitarian cooperation.
