Moscow Format Talks End Without Joint Communique Amid Pak-Afghan Row

ISLAMABAD: The eighth edition of the Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan concluded on Monday without issuing a joint communique, marking an unprecedented deadlock driven primarily by sharp diplomatic discord between Pakistani and Afghan delegations. The failure to adopt a consensus document underscores escalating tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, largely over cross-border militancy and mutual security obligations.

Russian Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov confirmed the impasse, expressing regret over the inability of participants to reach common ground. “When drafting the final joint statement, we encountered one problem, that problem was that our Afghan and Pakistani colleagues didn’t see eye to eye,” Kabulov remarked during a press briefing. Pakistani representatives reportedly maintained that cross-border attacks originating from Afghan soil have surged significantly, despite continuous diplomatic engagements and repeated assurances from the Taliban administration in Kabul.

The breakdown at the multilateral summit highlights the fragile nature of regional diplomacy surrounding Afghanistan’s security architecture. While Moscow, Beijing, and Central Asian capitals have sought coordinated engagement to stabilize Kabul and curb transnational extremist threats, Islamabad’s hardening stance reflects acute domestic security concerns. Pakistan continues to urge the Afghan interim administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries operating near its western border, warning that regional connectivity and economic integration remain severely compromised without tangible counterterrorism actions.

The diplomatic standoff in Moscow coincides with growing international scrutiny on Afghanistan, following recent actions by the International Criminal Court unsealing warrants against Afghan ministers over systematic curbs on women’s rights. Moving forward, regional interlocutors are expected to pursue bilateral backchannel diplomacy ahead of the next round of regional consultations to bridge the expanding divide between Islamabad and the interim Taliban setup.