The ministry stated in a post-consultation announcement published on its official website: “The parties called for enhancing cooperation in combating terrorism at both bilateral and multilateral levels.” An agreement to establish the “Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan” was reached in early 2017, following negotiations between Russia, the Afghan government, China, Pakistan, Iran, and India. The main declared objective of this format was to promote national reconciliation in Afghanistan and to achieve rapid peace in the country.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey were previously invited as guests, as well as Belarus. The Government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is participating for the fourth time since taking power in 2021. The United States participated in the “Moscow Format” only once in 2018, when it was represented by an observer from its embassy in Moscow, despite receiving invitations.
