Archive · 5 Oct 2026
India Backs Afghanistan’s Sovereignty at Moscow Format Talks
India said Afghanistan should remain united and independent.
It also said it wants to support the Afghan people.
Officials from several countries met in Russia to discuss Afghanistan.
They said countries should work with Kabul as equal partners.
They also called for humanitarian help to reach Afghans regularly, without making that help political.
Russia’s foreign minister said Russia would send more aid.
He also praised Afghanistan’s efforts against terrorist groups and drug trafficking.
He met with Afghanistan’s foreign minister to discuss cooperation.
India said it supports Afghanistan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and remains committed to the welfare of its people.
The statement came during the eighth Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, hosted by Russia.
Participants backed equal, mutually beneficial cooperation with Kabul and Afghanistan’s integration into the global economy.
They called for regular humanitarian assistance to Afghans and said aid should not be politicised.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed bilateral cooperation with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and said Russia would continue humanitarian aid.
- Who
- India and officials from Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan attended; Belarus and Egypt attended as guests.
- What
- At the eighth Moscow Format Consultations, India voiced support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
- When
- The report is dated October 5; it does not specify the year of the meeting.
- Where
- Moscow, Russia.
- Why
- The forum aims to promote national reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan and to discuss international assistance and cooperation.
- Forum
- Eighth Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan
- Host
- Russia
- India’s delegation leader
- Vinay Kumar, India’s ambassador to Russia
- Afghan delegation leader
- Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi
- Participants
- Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan; Belarus and Egypt attended as guests
- Forum established
- 2017
- Humanitarian aid
- Russia said it would continue regular aid, with another shipment expected in the coming months