Pakistan to attend Moscow Format talks on Afghanistan

For the first time, Afghanistan formally joins this format as a member country

Muhammad Sadiq Khan, Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan and also Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) and State Minister, departed for Moscow on Sunday to participate in high-level discussions on Afghanistan.

Representatives from Iran, China and Russia will participate in the quadrilateral consultation. Sadiq is to lead Pakistan's delegation in the 17th "Moscow Format" on Afghanistan, commencing tomorrow (Tuesday). The session is expected to cover security, counter-terrorism, drug trafficking prevention, and Afghan refugee issues.

According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan is set to call on the international community to increase humanitarian aid for Afghanistan.

Joint opposition by the four countries will be reiterated against the establishment of any foreign military bases in Afghanistan.

Pakistan will raise the issue of terrorists finding safe havens on Afghan soil and there will be a demand to end the recruitment, arms supply, and funding of terrorists from Afghanistan.

For the first time, Afghanistan will be formally welcomed as a member country in this format and Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, is expected to attend.

The Moscow format on Afghanistan was created in April 2017. It unites 11 countries that have expressed interest in a settlement in Afghanistan — Afghanistan itself, Russia, China, Iran, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.