Moscow moot ends sans joint statement

The eighth edition of the Moscow Format regional consultations on Afghanistan concluded on Monday without a joint communique due to disagreements between Pakistani and Afghan delegations. Russian presidential envoy Zamir Kabulov expressed regret that participants could not reach an agreement on a final document. The Moscow meeting included special envoys and senior officials from Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and Egypt.

The failure to agree on a joint statement highlighted how the deteriorating Pakistan-Afghanistan relations were complicating broader regional efforts to build consensus on Afghanistan. Afghan delegates objected to language that placed Afghanistan in a terrorist context, while Pakistan claimed its peace and stability efforts had been misunderstood, resulting in increased terrorist attacks from Afghan soil.

Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi accused Pakistan of using military pressure, refugees, students, and transit routes as leverage. Russia offered assistance in de-escalating the dispute, emphasizing that resolving bilateral disputes was not the objective of the Moscow Format. The International Criminal Court also unsealed arrest warrants for two Afghan ministers accused of crimes against humanity, including restricting women and girls. The Taliban denounced the ICC's decision to arrest their leaders.