Moscow Moot on Afghanistan Ends Without Joint Statement

News Desk

ISLAMABAD: The 8th edition of the Moscow Format regional consultations on Afghanistan concluded on Monday without a joint communique for the first time in its history, primarily due to sharp disagreements between the Pakistani and Afghan delegations.

Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov confirmed the deadlock, expressing regret that the participating nations failed to reach a consensus on the final draft document.

The primary bone of contention stemmed from Islamabad’s stance on cross-border terrorism. Pakistani officials maintained that cross-border terror attacks originating from Afghan soil have risen significantly, despite ongoing peace talks and assurances from the Taliban administration.

“When drafting the final joint statement, we encountered one problem, that problem was that our Afghan and Pakistani colleagues didn’t see eye to eye,” Kabulov stated, highlighting the deep diplomatic divide between the two neighboring countries.

This unprecedented failure to issue a joint statement underscores the deteriorating relations between Islamabad and Kabul over security concerns.

Pakistan has repeatedly urged the interim Afghan government to dismantle sanctuaries of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The lack of consensus at a major regional platform like the Moscow Format indicates a growing diplomatic impasse that could hamper regional counter-terrorism cooperation and economic integration efforts in Central and South Asia.

Adding to the diplomatic pressure on Kabul, the International Criminal Court (ICC) recently unsealed arrest warrants for Afghan ministers over systematic anti-women policies.

As regional powers watch closely, the next steps will likely involve bilateral backchannel diplomacy to address Pakistan’s security grievances, alongside international scrutiny over human rights violations in Afghanistan.