MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hosted consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow that included a delegation from the Taliban government. Officials from China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the Russia-hosted Afghanistan consultations. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi attended the consultations in Moscow.

"Five years is a short time to overcome the consequences of many decades of occupation, yet your government’s achievements are evident, and we welcome them," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "The powerful military machine of the United States and their NATO allies was broken by the fighting spirit and resilience of the Afghans," Lavrov said.

Pakistani jets struck Kunar and Helmand provinces in Afghanistan. The UN mission confirmed that at least 10 civilians were killed in the Pakistani airstrikes in Kunar and Helmand.

Pakistan stated it killed 22 militants in airstrikes on October 1, 2026. "In all the attacks or bombing that Pakistan has carried out, there has been no evidence to date that anyone who was dangerous to them (Pakistan) or anyone else has been killed by them," said Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that over 1,100 civilian casualties were recorded in cross-border violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2026. Additionally, more than 4,700 Pakistani citizens were killed by terrorism emanating from Afghanistan since 2023, according to OCHA data.

A Taliban military delegation attended the Center-2026 war games in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region as observers. The Center-2026 exercises ran from September 28 to October 3, 2026. Pakistani troops also participated in the Center-2026 exercises.

"Russia stands ready to help end this conflict using all possible means and acting independently or together with other partners if both parties ask for it," said Zamir Kabulov, Russia's presidential envoy for Afghanistan. China established a new county on its side of the frontier with Afghanistan in March 2026.

Why It Matters

The consultations reflect a broader pattern of regional engagement with the Taliban government, initiated by the Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan, which were first held on April 14, 2017, with the participation of deputy ministers and special representatives from 11 countries, including Afghanistan. The main goal of the format is to promote national reconciliation in Afghanistan and to ensure the fastest establishment of peace in the country. In 2019, Russia hosted a similar multi-nation consultation on Afghanistan in Moscow, where the Taliban also participated, marking the first time the group attended such a meeting since 2001.

The inclusion of military delegations and the signing of technical agreements signal a shift from purely diplomatic dialogue to substantive security cooperation. The events described span nine years, from 2017 to 2026, illustrating a gradual normalization of relations between Moscow and Kabul despite international isolation. The disagreement between Afghan and Pakistani representatives reflects the persistent challenges in achieving a unified regional approach to counterterrorism and border security.

Timeline

The Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan were first held on April 14, 2017, with the participation of deputy ministers and special representatives from 11 countries, including Afghanistan. Russia's Supreme Court suspended the ban on the Taliban as a terrorist organization in April 2025. Russia became the first country to recognize the Taliban government in July 2025.

Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, and Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Taliban’s defense minister, signed a military-technical agreement on May 27, 2026.

What's New

Additional reporting provided further detail on the positions expressed during the Moscow consultations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated, "Five years is a short time to overcome the consequences of many decades of occupation, yet your government’s achievements are evident, and we welcome them." He also said, "The powerful military machine of the United States and their NATO allies was broken by the fighting spirit and resilience of the Afghans."

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 1,100 civilian casualties were recorded in cross-border violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2026, with more than 4,700 Pakistani citizens killed by terrorism emanating from Afghanistan since 2023. In 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defense signed a preliminary agreement with the Taliban to establish a training center in Afghanistan for Afghan security forces, which was later expanded in 2026. In 2025, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) conducted an operation to intercept and dismantle a network of militants operating along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, which was linked to the TTP and other groups accused of cross-border attacks. The 2026 Center-2026 military exercises in Russia included joint drills between Russian and Afghan forces, marking the first time the Taliban had participated in a formal military exercise with a foreign power.