ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take part in the 17th Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan, with Special Representative on Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq Khan leading the country’s delegation to the high-level talks in the Russian capital.
Sadiq, who also serves as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Minister of State, departed for Moscow on Sunday. The meeting, set to begin Tuesday, will bring together senior representatives from Pakistan, Iran, China, and Russia to discuss regional security dynamics and the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan plans to urge the international community to step up humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people, emphasizing that sustained engagement and aid are essential to regional stability.
The participating nations are expected to reaffirm their joint opposition to the establishment of any foreign military bases in Afghanistan, underscoring the need for Afghan-led solutions to security challenges.
Pakistan will also raise concerns over the presence of terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, pressing for concrete action to dismantle recruitment networks, weapons supplies, and financial channels linked to cross-border militancy.
In a significant development, Afghanistan will be formally welcomed as a member of the Moscow Format for the first time. The country’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, is expected to attend the session, marking a step toward direct engagement with regional stakeholders.
Established in 2017, the Moscow Format brings together 11 regional countries, including Afghanistan, Russia, China, Iran, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, to coordinate efforts for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
