MOSCOW (Dispatches) – Special representatives and senior officials from Afghanistan, Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Central Asian states convene in Moscow Monday for the eighth round of the Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan, with escalating cross-border tensions between Kabul and Islamabad set to dominate the agenda.
Russian Presidential Special Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov confirmed that the deteriorating situation between Afghanistan and Pakistan would be a central topic at the Oct. 5 meeting. 
“Of course, this issue will certainly be raised, and we will be happy to use the Moscow platform to help both conflicting parties reach some reasonable compromises,” Kabulov told the Izvestia newspaper.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will lead the Taliban delegation and is scheduled to hold a separate bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines. 
Pakistan will be represented by its Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, accompanied by Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul and several senior foreign policy officials.
The diplomatic push comes after Pakistan conducted its third round of airstrikes inside Afghan territory in two weeks on Oct. 1, targeting what Islamabad described as militant hideouts in Kunar and Helmand provinces. 
Pakistan’s Information Ministry claimed 22 “terrorists” were killed, asserting that maximum precautions were taken to avoid collateral damage.
Kabul rejected that account. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes hit civilian homes, killing at least nine civilians and injuring 11 others. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented over 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan from cross-border violence so far this year.
Kabulov said both sides remain entrenched in their positions. Pakistan demands an end to what it says is the use of Afghan territory by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group Islamabad holds responsible for cross-border attacks. Afghan authorities deny the allegation, calling the conflict between militants and Islamabad an internal Pakistani matter.
The Moscow Format, established in 2017, brings together regional states to discuss Afghanistan, with security, terrorism, narcotics, trade and regional connectivity recurring themes. 
Russia formally recognized the Taliban administration in 2025, and Afghanistan participated as a formal member for the first time at the seventh meeting in October 2025.
The agenda for Monday’s meeting includes political and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and regional countries, as well as strengthening coordination against terrorism and drug trafficking. A joint statement is expected at the conclusion.
Belarus and Egypt have been invited as guest participants. Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will also attend.