KABUL: Sergey Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia, stated at the seventh session of the “Moscow Format” that it is evident that addressing issues related to Afghanistan is impossible without the involvement of the Afghan people.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its Telegram channel on Tuesday night, that in the meeting Lavrov emphasized that ensuring security and prosperity in the region depends on “Afghanistan’s active participation in political processes, multilateral mechanisms, and joint economic initiatives,” and that Moscow supports this.
“By officially recognizing the Islamic Emirate government in July, Russia has removed barriers to government-level cooperation. Russia is committed to enhancing its cooperation in combating terrorism, addressing drug trafficking, and diversifying economic relations,” he said.
According to Lavrov, the significant political challenges facing Afghanistan stem from the “openly hostile policies of Western countries,” which Russia regrets.
He noted that the presence of the Afghan delegation at the seventh “Moscow Format” meeting has added practical value to this regional framework.
It is worth mentioning that the seventh session of the “Moscow Format” was held yesterday in Moscow, attended by senior diplomats from Iran, China, Russia, Pakistan, and the Afghan Foreign Minister.