Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, will lead his country's delegation at the eighth consultative "Moscow Format" meeting, scheduled for Monday, October 5. His attendance comes amid severely heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban government.
Pakistani sources told Afghanistan International on Saturday, October 4, that the Pakistani delegation will hold bilateral meetings with special representatives from Russia, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan on the sidelines of the event. However, no meeting has been planned with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's acting foreign minister, who is leading his group's delegation.
In response to the possibility of a meeting, a Taliban official stated, "We have not requested any meeting." Diplomatic talks between the two sides have been stalled since last October, indicating a deep crisis in their relations.
The primary topic of discussion at this year's Moscow meeting will be the escalating tension between Pakistan and the Taliban. Zamir Kabulov, Russia's Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan, has expressed hope that Moscow can use this platform to de-escalate tensions and push both parties towards "reasonable dialogue."
Russia's Foreign Ministry announced that participants will discuss political and economic cooperation, as well as enhancing regional collaboration in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking.
Pakistan accuses the Taliban of sheltering anti-Pakistan militant groups, an allegation the Taliban consistently denies, while in turn accusing Islamabad of violating Afghanistan's sovereignty. These tensions have also raised concerns among other members of the Moscow Format.
Source: Afghanistan International
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