MOSCOW (Dispatches) — Russia hosted the eighth Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan on Monday, drawing senior representatives from the Taliban government, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asian states, but the meeting concluded without a joint statement after a sharp disagreement between the Afghan and Pakistani delegations.
Addressing the opening session, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared the deployment of NATO military infrastructure in Afghanistan or neighboring countries “absolutely unacceptable” under any pretext, warning that such a presence would carry risks of destabilization and conflict escalation.
Lavrov praised the Taliban-led government, stating it had consolidated control over Afghan territory and was governing “quite successfully” five years after the Western withdrawal. 
He cited Taliban counterterrorism operations that eliminated hundreds of militants, UN estimates showing a 90% decline in opium production since 2022, and economic indicators including 170 new manufacturing facilities and $14 billion in foreign trade.
However, the meeting’s closing session exposed deep divisions. Zamir Kabulov, Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan, told reporters that the Taliban delegation objected to language in the draft joint statement referencing Afghanistan “too often in a terrorist context,” despite similar wording appearing in last year’s document . 
“We regret this,” Kabulov said, adding that the Moscow Format could continue without joint statements, though it would be “more in line with tradition” to adopt one.
The impasse underscored the deteriorating relationship between Kabul and Islamabad. 
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi accused Pakistan of using “force and maximum pressure” against Afghanistan, claiming Pakistani airstrikes had targeted universities, hospitals, and residential areas in border provinces.
Muttaqi said disputes must be resolved through dialogue, not military action, while asserting Afghanistan’s “legitimate right to self-defense”.
Kabulov said Russia was ready to help defuse tensions between the two neighbors “using all possible means,” but only if both parties formally requested mediation. 
Iranian and Pakistani delegation heads met on the sidelines, with Iran expressing readiness to help de-escalate tensions.
The Moscow Format, established in 2017, remains the primary regional platform for consultations on Afghanistan. Russia became the first country to recognize the Taliban government in July 2025 and has since deepened security and economic cooperation with Kabul. 
Despite the absence of a joint statement, Lavrov said Moscow would continue regular humanitarian deliveries, with the next shipment expected within one to two months, as UN estimates warn that more than 17 million Afghans could face food shortages this winter.