Moscow: Reiterating its commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, India has voiced support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity at the eighth Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan.
New Delhi’s position was conveyed by an Indian delegation led by ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar and joint secretary (PAI) M Suresh Kumar.
The consultations brought together officials from Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi led Afghanistan’s delegation, while Belarus and Egypt participated as guests.
“Based on its long-standing friendship with Afghanistan, India remains committed to the welfare of Afghan people and supports Afghan sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity,” the Embassy of India in Russia said in a post on X.
This reiteration of India’s position came at a time when Pakistan has been carrying out cross-border military strikes into Afghanistan.
Participants reaffirmed that there was no alternative to developing cooperation with Kabul on an equal and mutually beneficial basis and supporting Afghanistan’s integration into the global economy, the Russian foreign ministry said, as reported by News18.
The participants also called on the international community to provide regular humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, stressing that such aid should not be politicised.
The forum brings together countries that have a stake in establishing and maintaining an equal and mutually beneficial partnership with the Afghan people, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said.
“It offers an opportunity to hold a substantive discussion of matters related to providing international assistance to Afghanistan and, importantly, to do so in conjunction with Kabul,” he said.
August 2026 marked the “fifth anniversary of Afghanistan’s liberation from two decades of Western occupation”, Lavrov said.
The military presence of the US and its NATO allies had ended after the Afghan people displayed their “fighting spirit and determination”, he said.
The Russian foreign minister also lauded Afghanistan’s “uncompromising fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups” and its efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Hundreds of militants had been eliminated and several high-profile terror attacks had been foiled, he said.
Strengthening Kabul’s counterterrorism capabilities through material and expert assistance, along with maintaining contacts between intelligence and law enforcement agencies, serves the interests of all countries involved, Lavrov insisted.
Afghanistan’s economy continued to develop despite harsh sanctions pressure from Western countries, he said.
The Moscow Format was established in 2017, with the participation of special representatives from 11 countries, including Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China and Pakistan.
Its main objective is to promote national reconciliation in Afghanistan and facilitate the establishment of peace in the country.
