The 2025 Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan

On October 7, 2025, the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan convened its seventh meeting, bringing together regional powers like Russia, China, India, and Iran. This year's session marked a significant development: Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi attended as an official representative, a notable upgrade from his previous guest status, signaling a shift in regional diplomacy.

While the talks focused on shared goals of combating terrorism and fostering economic connectivity, this analysis by Nilofar Sakhi argues that the format is deeply flawed. By legitimizing the Taliban without requiring concrete reforms on governance or human rights, the Moscow Format fails to promote genuine stability. Instead of building consensus, it deepens geopolitical divides, undermines its own credibility, and ultimately serves more as a platform for Russian influence than an effective mechanism for lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Oct13_Moscow Format on Afghanistan.pdf

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