Top Afghan diplomat seeks regional countries' ‘pragmatic cooperation’ with Kabul

KARACHI, Pakistan

Afghanistan’s interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Tuesday urged the regional countries to take steps toward “pragmatic cooperation” with Kabul.

Addressing the Moscow Format Consultative Meeting on the war-torn nation in the Russian capital, Muttaqi said: “I urge you to view the Afghan issue from an independent and objective perspective, based on ground realities. The efforts of the Afghan government in ensuring regional security, economic stability, and political progress should not be overlooked.”

The 7th round of consultative meeting was held on Tuesday, with officials from Afghanistan, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan attending the event to discuss critical issues related to Afghanistan.

This marks the first time Muttaqi is attending the meeting in an official capacity.

Appreciating the recognition of the Taliban interim administration by Russia early this year in July, he hoped that other countries would use the Moscow Format and similar platforms “to take positive steps toward pragmatic cooperation with Afghanistan,” according to a transcript of his speech.

The Taliban returned to power in Kabul, following the complete withdrawal of foreign forces, and the fall of the West-backed regime, in August 2021, under the Doha deal signed with the US. Since then, only Moscow has recognized the Taliban-led interim administration.

Referring to a recent joint statement by several countries that raised concerns about the presence of various militant groups in Afghanistan, Muttaqi said that no such group exists on his country’s soil.

“I wish to clearly state that no group exists in Afghanistan that uses our territory to create problems for other countries,” he stressed.

He, however, said that Afghan intelligence agencies have indicated that ISIS (Daesh) and other groups have recently established training centers in other countries in the region, “which is a matter of concern for the Afghan government.”

Muttaqi also called for the establishment of coordinated regional cooperation to eradicate narcotics from all countries in the region.

Describing the US-led foreign presence in Afghanistan until August 2021 as a “primary” cause of security challenges, he said that all factors contributing to insecurity in Afghanistan have been eliminated.

“Our region must not again become a victim of miscalculations or flawed policies.”

Speaking to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Muttaqi said his country would not permit the establishment of foreign military bases in Afghanistan.

"The top Afghan diplomat firmly stated that Afghanistan and its government will not permit the establishment of foreign military bases on their territory. This includes the Bagram base," Russian special presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov cited Muttaqi as saying, according to Russia's Tass news agency.

Last month, China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan opposed any move to reestablish military bases in Afghanistan after US President Donald Trump asked the interim Taliban administration to return Bagram Air Base to the Pentagon.

Addressing the Moscow Format meeting, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, reaffirmed Islamabad’s “unwavering” commitment to a “peaceful, stable, and secure Afghanistan.”

He stressed the “urgent need for collective regional efforts to effectively counter terrorism and dismantle all terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil,” according to a statement by the envoy on US social media company X.