Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Moscow Talks Put Pakistan-Taliban Rift on Regional Agenda
Officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries are meeting in Moscow.
They will discuss Afghanistan and the growing disagreement between Pakistan and the Taliban-led government.
Pakistan says militant groups operate from Afghan territory.
The Taliban government rejects that claim and says Pakistan has violated Afghan sovereignty.
Russia says the meeting could help the two sides find a reasonable compromise.
The talks will also cover political and economic cooperation, terrorism and drug trafficking.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Sadiq and Afghanistan’s Amir Khan Muttaqi will both attend.
It is not yet clear whether they will meet directly.
A joint statement is expected after the consultations.
Russia is hosting the eighth Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow on October 5, 2026.
The meeting brings together Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Iran, Russia and Central Asian countries; Belarus and Egypt are invited guests.
Russia says it is ready to use the forum to encourage Pakistan and Afghanistan to reach a reasonable compromise.
Pakistan’s delegation includes Special Representative Mohammad Sadiq and Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul; Afghanistan’s delegation is led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
A bilateral Sadiq-Muttaqi meeting has not been confirmed, while Muttaqi is scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
- Who
- Officials and special representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, India, China, Iran and Central Asian countries; Belarus and Egypt are invited guests.
- What
- The eighth Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, with Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions among the central issues.
- When
- Monday, October 5, 2026.
- Where
- Moscow, Russia.
- Why
- To discuss Afghanistan’s political and economic situation, regional cooperation, terrorism and drug trafficking, and to encourage dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s allegations
Taliban government’s response
Militant groups and cross-border security
Pakistan’s allegations
Islamabad has repeatedly raised concerns about militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
Taliban government’s response
The Taliban-led government rejects Pakistan’s allegations and has accused Islamabad of violating Afghan sovereignty.
- Meeting
- Eighth round of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan
- Host
- Russia
- Date
- October 5, 2026
- Afghan delegation
- Led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi
- Pakistani representatives
- Special Representative Mohammad Sadiq and Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul
- Bilateral meeting
- No Sadiq-Muttaqi meeting has been confirmed
- Expected outcome
- A joint statement is expected at the conclusion
- Moscow Format established
- 2017