ISLAMABAD (Oct 7) — Pakistan, China, Russia and Iran on Tuesday reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring a “stable and peaceful” Afghanistan, while expressing concern over the presence of terrorist groups operating from within the country.
The four nations’ special envoys for Afghanistan met in Moscow for a Quadrilateral Meeting on Regional Peace and Security, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq said in a post on X.
“Held detailed discussions on the evolving situation in Afghanistan, the need for regional stability, and coordinated counterterrorism efforts,” Sadiq wrote, describing the meeting as “productive and forward-looking.”
According to diplomatic sources, the envoys focused on the threat posed by militant outfits such as ISIS-K, which has carried out multiple attacks across Afghanistan and neighbouring countries in recent months.
The Moscow meeting also comes days before a “Moscow Format” dialogue on Afghanistan, scheduled later this week, where Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is expected to participate alongside representatives from India, China, Iran, and Central Asian states.
Regional powers have stepped up consultations in recent weeks amid growing worries about cross-border militancy, drug trafficking, and Afghanistan’s worsening economic crisis under Taliban rule.
While the Taliban have repeatedly denied hosting terrorist groups, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan have raised alarms about extremist networks exploiting Afghan territory.