Moscow huddle vows to help Kabul battle terror

KABUL (Pajhwok): Participants of the sixth Moscow-format meeting on Afghanistan have voiced their willingness to assist Kabul in battling terrorism and drug trafficking.

Friday’s Moscow-hosted consultations on Afghanistan were attended by special representatives and senior officials from Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan’s caretaker Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi took part in the meeting as the chief guest, a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry said: “The Moscow format of consultations is the most authoritative multilateral platform where the countries of the region coordinate real approaches to.. the Afghan settlement.

The parties pledged their support for the establishment of Afghanistan as an independent, united and peaceful state.

According to TASS, they expressed their readiness to assist Kabul in combating terrorism and drug trafficking.

The participants evinced their interest in working out regional infrastructure projects involving Afghanistan.

They also noted prospects for economic and trade exchanges and investment cooperation with Afghanistan.

The statement added: “The parties stressed the demand for international humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, saying such assistance should not be politicised.

Russia supported efforts by the interim Afghan government to banish the menace of terrorism from the region.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: “We support the active commitment of the Afghan authorities to curbing the terrorist threat.”

He hailed Kabul’s effective fight against the Islamic State in Afghanistan. “It is in our common interest to provide the Afghan authorities with the necessary effective assistance in this area as well.”

Russian’s top diplomat promised his country would continue to supply foods and essentials to Afghanistan on a regular basis.

The foreign minister assured: “"Moscow will also continue its policy of developing political, trade and economic ties with Afghanistan.”

Set up in 2017, the Moscow-format consultations seek to facilitate national reconciliation in Afghanistan and restore peace to the country.

PAN Monitor/mud