Russian Foreign Minister Invites Taliban’s Muttaqi to Moscow Format Talks
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has invited Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to attend the next round of Moscow Format talks, marking the first formal contact since Russia officially recognized the Taliban government.
Kokcha News Agency: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has extended an invitation to Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to participate in the upcoming Moscow Format talks, according to a statement released by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
The invitation was made during a phone conversation between the two officials, marking the first formal contact since Russia officially recognized the Taliban government. Russia recently became the first country to recognize the Taliban regime.
During the call, Lavrov and Muttaqi reportedly discussed regional security and cooperation in combating drug trafficking. Lavrov emphasized that Russia’s recognition of the Taliban government has opened the door for enhanced political, economic, and international collaboration, the statement noted.
The Moscow Format talks are designed to promote dialogue on Afghanistan’s future and regional stability. While no specific date has been announced, Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, has indicated that the next round of talks is expected to take place between September and October 2025.
