Russia Hosts Taliban Delegation, Regional Representatives for Afghanistan Consultations

MOSCOW, Oct 5: Russia on Monday hosted a high-level meeting on Afghanistan attended by a Taliban delegation and representatives from China, India, Iran, Pakistan and several Central Asian countries, as Moscow sought to deepen its role in regional diplomacy.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomed Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at the talks and praised what he described as the Taliban government’s progress since it assumed control of the country in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces.

Lavrov congratulated Muttaqi on what he called the fifth anniversary of Afghanistan’s “liberation from the NATO contingent”. He acknowledged that rebuilding the country after decades of conflict remained a major challenge but said Moscow considered the Taliban’s efforts against extremist groups and drug trafficking significant.

Russia has increasingly sought to expand its diplomatic influence in Afghanistan and the wider region through regular consultations involving neighbouring countries and other key stakeholders. In July 2025, Moscow became the first government to formally recognise the Taliban administration after removing the movement from its list of outlawed organisations.

Addressing the meeting, Lavrov said the military campaign conducted by the United States and its NATO partners had failed to defeat the Afghan resistance. He also highlighted cooperation between Moscow and Kabul in areas including counterterrorism, narcotics control and military-technical engagement.

Lavrov reiterated Russia’s opposition to any attempt to establish NATO military infrastructure in Afghanistan or neighbouring states. According to him, such deployments could create new security risks and contribute to instability in the region.

Moscow also pledged to continue providing humanitarian support to Afghanistan while encouraging regional countries to work toward reducing tensions and addressing security concerns.

Representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan joined officials from China, India, Iran and Pakistan at the consultations.

The worsening relationship between Kabul and Islamabad emerged as one of the most contentious issues during the meeting. Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said Moscow was prepared to assist in resolving the dispute if both sides requested its involvement.

The two neighbours have witnessed repeated cross-border clashes despite diplomatic efforts to ease tensions. Pakistan has carried out strikes inside Afghanistan, while Afghan forces have launched operations along the border.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban administration of allowing militant groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from Afghan territory. Pakistani envoy Mohammad Sadiq told the gathering that militant violence remained a central challenge for Afghanistan and alleged that the Taliban authorities had links with organisations responsible for attacks in Pakistan.

Sadiq claimed that more than 4,700 Pakistanis had been killed in terrorist attacks originating from Afghanistan over the past three years. He defended Pakistan’s military response as targeted and based on intelligence.

Muttaqi rejected Islamabad’s allegations and condemned Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. He said civilians, including women and children, had been killed and disputed Pakistan’s claims about targeting militants.

Despite Moscow’s formal recognition of the Taliban, Afghanistan’s rulers continue to face considerable diplomatic isolation. Several countries, including China and the United Arab Emirates, have developed diplomatic engagement with Kabul, but the Taliban administration remains under international pressure, particularly because of its restrictions on women and girls.

The Moscow consultations therefore highlighted both the growing regional engagement with Afghanistan and the unresolved security and political disputes that continue to complicate the country’s relations with its neighbours.