Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

India participated in the fourth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan held in Moscow on 16th November 2022. The meeting saw participation from special envoys and senior officials from Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

What is Moscow Format?

• Moscow format is one of the several dialogue platforms on Afghanistan which began before the Taliban takeover of Kabul.
• The format consists of Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and India.

The issues discussed at the 4th Moscow Format

The participants discussed issues related to Afghanistan. These include 

• The current humanitarian situation and the ongoing efforts of various stakeholders to provide assistance, 
• Intra-Afghan talks, 
• The formation of an inclusive and representative government and 
• Efforts to counter threats of terrorism and ensure regional security.

About Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan:

• The Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, launched in 2017, is a regional platform on Afghanistan involving the special envoys of Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, and Pakistan.
• Its mandate is to facilitate political reconciliation between the then-internationally backed Kabul government and the Taliban, establish peace, and ensure regional security.
• Moscow assumed the lead in this process based on its national concerns and interests in Afghanistan, most notably on two key issues.
• The first issue was centred around the potential threats due to the spread of instability, violence, and extremism in Afghanistan and the rest of Central Asia.
• The second was related to the growing inflow of Afghan heroin to the Russian market. Geopolitical interests related to Moscow’s opposition to any US or Western security presence in Central Asia undergirds Russia’s motives to lead such processes.
• April 2017 saw the first round of consultations with Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in attendance.