1 hr ago
Pakistan-Afghanistan Rift Blocks Moscow Format Joint Statement
A group of countries met to talk about Afghanistan.
Afghanistan and Pakistan disagreed about the wording of a planned statement, so the group did not approve it.
Afghanistan objected to repeated references to the country in connection with terrorism.
Russia’s envoy said the group can still work without a joint statement.
He explained that the group helps countries coordinate, but does not settle disagreements between two countries.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have had tense relations and cross-border clashes.
Russia’s foreign minister also said NATO infrastructure should not be deployed in Afghanistan or nearby countries.
The Moscow Format began in 2017 and now has 11 member countries.
Disagreements between Afghanistan and Pakistan prevented the Moscow Format meeting from adopting a joint statement.
Russia’s Afghanistan envoy Zamir Kabulov said Afghan representatives objected to how often Afghanistan was discussed in a terrorist context.
Kabulov said the Moscow Format can continue without a joint statement and is intended to coordinate regional cooperation, not resolve bilateral disputes.
Pakistan-Afghanistan relations have been strained by cross-border clashes following Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan, which Islamabad said targeted terror camps.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned against deploying NATO infrastructure in Afghanistan or elsewhere in the region.
- Who
- Afghan and Pakistani representatives disagreed at a Moscow Format meeting; Russia, India and other member countries took part.
- What
- The meeting did not adopt a joint statement because of the disagreement.
- Where
- At a Moscow Format meeting; the article does not specify the venue.
- When
- Monday; the article does not specify the date.
- Why
- Afghanistan objected to the draft’s repeated references to the country in a terrorist context.
Afghan position
Pakistani position
Draft joint statement
Afghan position
Afghan representatives considered the draft unacceptable because it mentioned Afghanistan too often in a terrorist context, and said bilateral relations had changed since the previous year.
Pakistani position
The article reports that Pakistani and Afghan representatives did not agree on the draft, but does not specify Pakistan’s position on its wording.
Bilateral tensions
Afghan position
The article reports Afghan objections to Pakistan’s cross-border air strikes, which Islamabad said targeted terror camps.
Pakistani position
Islamabad described its air strikes inside Afghanistan as targeting terror camps.
Key facts
- Outcome
- No joint statement was adopted.
- Stated disagreement
- Afghan representatives objected to references placing Afghanistan in a terrorist context.
- Russian representative
- Zamir Kabulov, President Vladimir Putin’s special representative for Afghanistan.
- Purpose
- The Moscow Format coordinates regional cooperation and approaches on Afghanistan.
- Established
- 2017.
- Membership
- The format currently has 11 member countries, including Afghanistan.
- India’s representative
- Indian ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar.
- Lavrov’s warning
- He opposed deploying NATO infrastructure in Afghanistan or any country in the region.
Quotes
Zamir Kabulov
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special representative for Afghanistan
“When drafting the final joint statement, we encountered one problem — our Afghan and Pakistani colleagues didn't see eye to eye. We regret this.”
telegraphindia.com
“The Moscow format can work and continue to exist without this joint statement. But it would be more in line with tradition, more proper.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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