Participants in the sixth Moscow Format conference expressed deep concerns over the ongoing threat posed by terrorism in Afghanistan, according to a joint statement released after the meeting in Russia on Friday.
The gathering, which included envoys from several regional countries, focused on the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, emphasizing that terrorist and separatist groups based in the country continue to pose serious risks to both global and regional security.
The statement, released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, called for enhanced cooperation to combat terrorism on both bilateral and multilateral levels. The participants stressed the need for Afghanistan to implement comprehensive measures aimed at addressing both the root causes and symptoms of terrorism.
“Afghanistan should take visible and verifiable actions to fulfill its international obligations, including dismantling and eliminating all terrorist groups without discrimination,” the statement said. The parties also called on the Afghan authorities to prevent the use of Afghan territory for activities against its neighbors and the wider region.
In addition to security concerns, the participants urged Afghanistan’s current government to adopt a more moderate and inclusive approach to governance, ensuring the protection of the basic rights of all Afghan people, particularly women, girls, and ethnic minorities. The statement reaffirmed the countries’ support for Afghanistan as an independent, united, and peaceful state.
The participants also criticized efforts by third countries to deploy military infrastructure in Afghanistan and its neighboring states, arguing that such actions undermine regional peace and stability. They highlighted the importance of promoting Afghanistan’s integration into regional economic and trade networks and noted promising developments in this area.
On the humanitarian front, the statement reiterated the international community’s commitment to providing emergency assistance to the Afghan people and called for an intensification of aid efforts.
The Taliban delegation, led by Afghanistan’s UN-sanctioned Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, participated in the discussions. While the Taliban seek greater international recognition, they face mounting pressure from regional powers to take stronger action against terrorism and to govern more inclusively.
