Top Afghan diplomat flies to Russia in a 1st for Moscow Format talks

ISTANBUL

The foreign minister of Afghan’s interim administration on Monday departed for Russia for the first time to attend the Moscow Format talks.

Amir Khan Muttaqi is visiting Russia at the official invitation of the Russian Federation, interim Foreign Ministry spokesman Hafiz Zia Ahmad said on US social media company X.

Muttaqi will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the seventh meeting of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan. The talks will focus on current bilateral cooperation and regional stability.

The broader Moscow meeting, chaired by Lavrov, will bring together representatives from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with Belarus attending as a guest.

Discussions will center on Afghan national reconciliation, counterterrorism, and economic cooperation, with a joint statement expected after the session.

The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 after the withdrawal of US-led forces ended a two-decade war.

In July, Russia recognized the Taliban administration as the official government of Afghanistan, making it the first country to do so.