KEY POINTS
- Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran reaffirm their commitment to a stable Afghanistan free from terrorism and external intervention.
- The four-nation meeting was held in Moscow on the sidelines of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan.
- Participants express grave concern over terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.
- The envoys agree to enhance coordination and joint counterterrorism efforts to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorists.
- Moscow Format Consultations call for strengthened counterterrorism cooperation.
- The joint statement rejected any foreign military presence in Afghanistan.
MOSCOW: Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran on Tuesday unanimously reaffirmed their shared commitment to a stable, sovereign, and peaceful Afghanistan, underscoring the need for the country to remain “free from the scourge of terrorism and external intervention”.
The commitment was expressed during a quadrilateral meeting of special representatives on Afghanistan held in Moscow. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the seventh Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, a wider regional forum that includes representatives from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with Belarus participating as a guest.
Shared objectives
Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq Khan, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the participating countries “unanimously reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to a stable, sovereign, and peaceful Afghanistan, underscoring the necessity of a country free from the scourge of terrorism and external intervention.”
The Pakistani envoy said that the regional countries expressed “grave concern” over the continued presence of terrorist organisations operating from Afghan soil, including banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Jaish al-Adl, Daesh (ISIS), and al-Qaeda.
“In light of this shared threat, the nations emphasised the critical importance of enhanced coordination and collaborative action to combat terrorism in all its manifestations,” Ambassador Sadiq Khan said.
The Quadrilateral Meeting of Special Representatives for Afghanistan, comprising Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran, convened in Moscow to deliberate on matters of regional peace and security.
The participating states unanimously reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to a stable,… pic.twitter.com/lhzNNnxNf1
— Mohammad Sadiq (@AmbassadorSadiq) October 7, 2025
The envoys agreed to strengthen joint counterterrorism efforts and continue consultations aimed at preventing Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups.
Counterterrorism cooperation
Meanwhile, participants of the 7th Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, reaffirmed their collective commitment to supporting Afghanistan as an independent, united, and peaceful state.
The meeting, hosted in Moscow at the level of special representatives and senior officials, was attended by delegates from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with Belarus participating as a guest.
For the first time, the Afghan delegation—headed by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi—participated in the consultations as a full member.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the regional countries underscored the need to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
They emphasised that Afghanistan must undertake comprehensive measures to eliminate terrorism and prevent its territory from being used as a threat to the security of neighbouring countries and beyond.
The statement described terrorism as a serious threat to regional and global security and highlighted the importance of regional frameworks in addressing shared challenges.
Foreign military presence in Afghanistan
The regional countries also called for enhanced economic and trade cooperation, investment, and regional connectivity involving Afghanistan.
Participants expressed interest in promoting joint projects in areas such as healthcare, poverty reduction, agriculture, and disaster prevention to help Afghanistan achieve sustainable and independent development, according to the joint statement.
Reaffirming their commitment to humanitarian assistance, the parties urged the international community to scale up emergency aid to the Afghan people while rejecting any attempts to politicise humanitarian relief.
The statement further urged the countries “mainly responsible for the current predicament in Afghanistan” to fulfil their commitments toward the nation’s economic recovery and development.
It also described as “unacceptable” any attempt by foreign powers to deploy military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states, warning that such actions would undermine regional peace and stability.
Bilateral meetings in Moscow
Ahead of the quadrilateral consultations, Pakistan’s envoy Ambassador Sadiq held separate meetings with his Iranian, Chinese, and Russian counterparts to discuss regional cooperation, security, and humanitarian challenges.
In a post following his meeting with Iran’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Sadiq said they held “in-depth discussions on the latest developments in Afghanistan and exchanged views on shared concerns, particularly the persistent threat of terrorism.”
He added that both sides emphasised “the importance of continued dialogue and coordination to address common challenges” and explored ways to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation for stability and security.
Had a great meeting with Muhammad Reza Bahrami, my Iranian counterpart, in Moscow ahead of Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan starting tomorrow.
We held in-depth discussions on the latest developments in Afghanistan and exchanged views on shared concerns, particularly… pic.twitter.com/haFDbnetcw
— Mohammad Sadiq (@AmbassadorSadiq) October 6, 2025
Sadiq described his meeting with China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong, as “productive,” noting that both sides discussed regional security, counterterrorism cooperation, and humanitarian concerns in Afghanistan.
“The meeting underscored the strong partnership between Pakistan and China in addressing shared challenges and advancing regional development,” he wrote on X.
Had a productive meeting with my Chinese counterpart, Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong, in Moscow today. We discussed regional security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and humanitarian concerns in Afghanistan, highlighting the importance of a coordinated approach to promote lasting peace… pic.twitter.com/4jT1eZb9PE
— Mohammad Sadiq (@AmbassadorSadiq) October 6, 2025
The Pakistani envoy also met Russia’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, for talks focused on regional cooperation and the evolving situation in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kabul, Ubaid ur Rahman Nizamani, also attended the meeting.
Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, met with his Russian counterpart, Ambassador Zamir Kabulov, in Moscow. This meeting was held ahead of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan. The discussions were focused on measures to promote… pic.twitter.com/uKz2PTSEIm
— Mohammad Sadiq (@AmbassadorSadiq) October 6, 2025
Taliban’s participation and Russia’s recognition
The Moscow Format meeting marked a significant development as Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi attended for the first time as an official representative of the Taliban government, following Russia’s decision earlier this year to formally recognise the Taliban administration.
According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, the meeting — held behind closed doors — focused on promoting Afghan national reconciliation and expanding cooperation in the political, economic, counterterrorism, and counternarcotics fields. A joint statement is expected to be issued at the conclusion of the talks.
Muttaqi is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Zakharova confirmed, with discussions expected to cover bilateral cooperation and regional security issues.
Pakistan’s position
Pakistan has consistently urged the Taliban authorities to take “concrete and verifiable measures” against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently warned that Afghanistan “must choose between siding with terrorists or standing with Pakistan,” reaffirming Islamabad’s zero-tolerance stance toward militancy and cross-border attacks.
At the Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue earlier this year in Kabul, Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan pledged to deepen cooperation against terrorism and expand ties in trade, transit, health, education, culture, and counter-narcotics. The three sides also discussed extending the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan.
Established in 2016, the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan serve as a key regional mechanism to coordinate approaches toward the Afghan peace process. Previous meetings have urged the Taliban administration to prevent Afghan territory from being used against neighbouring countries and to take “verifiable actions” to dismantle terrorist networks operating within its borders.
