Russia’s Foreign Ministry has announced that the eighth meeting of the “Moscow Format” consultations on Afghanistan will be held in Moscow on October 5, with representatives of the Taliban, Russia, and countries in the region expected to participate.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday, October 1, that special representatives and senior officials from Russia, the Taliban, Iran, China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan would attend the meeting.
She added that a Taliban delegation led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the group’s foreign minister, would participate in the meeting, while Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, would also address the gathering.
Muttaqi is expected to meet with Lavrov on the sidelines of the meeting to discuss bilateral cooperation between the Taliban and Russia.
The meeting will also discuss political and economic cooperation, the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, and a joint statement may also be issued.
