What happened
Russia hosted a regional gathering, known as the Moscow format, to discuss integrating the Taliban into the region. The meeting brought together 11 countries, including Iran, China, and India, to meet with Taliban officials and find a peaceful way forward. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised the Taliban for its governance, despite widespread reports of persecution and human rights abuses.
The Taliban has implemented a fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic law, restricting women's education and movement. Lavrov applauded the Taliban for eliminating other terrorist groups and encouraged other participants to help the Taliban reinforce its counterterrorism capabilities.
The meeting did not result in a joint statement due to disagreements between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistani officials have accused Afghanistan of harboring Pakistani Taliban jihadists, leading to intermittent conflict between the two countries. The Taliban representatives complained that the proposed joint statement focused too much on jihadist terrorism in the country.
The Taliban foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, emphasized his government's interest in attracting foreign investment and becoming a key hub for economic cooperation in the region. He encouraged countries to follow Russia's lead and fully recognize the Taliban as a government entity, and to pursue dialogue and diplomacy with the Taliban.
