Russia hosted a Taliban delegation along with other participants for consultations on Afghanistan, The Washington Post reports. The meeting in Moscow brought together regional parties to discuss the country's situation, according to the same report.
At the Moscow gathering, Pakistan said terrorism remains the central problem facing Afghanistan, Dawn reports. The Taliban responded that its differences with Pakistan can be settled through diplomatic channels, according to Reuters.
The Taliban's acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, told the meeting that Afghanistan should serve as a hub for regional cooperation, according to TOLOnews. Russia's foreign minister also praised the government in Kabul, africanews.com reports.
The consultations reflect continued international engagement with the Taliban administration, which has not been formally recognized by most governments. Pakistan's participation highlights the strained relationship between Islamabad and Kabul, with terrorism cited as a key point of friction. The Taliban's public call for diplomacy suggests it wants to keep those tensions from escalating.
The Moscow meeting is one of several regional gatherings focused on Afghanistan since the Taliban took power. Neighboring countries have used such forums to press concerns about security, while the Taliban has sought to present itself as a partner for regional economic and political cooperation.
What to watch next: whether the Moscow consultations produce any concrete agreement between the Taliban and Pakistan, or further regional meetings on Afghanistan.
