Eighth Round of ‘Moscow Format’ Consultation Ends Amid Rising Tensions Between Taliban and Pakistan

The eighth round of the ‘Moscow Format’ consultation ended without a final agreement. The Taliban’s Foreign Minister has invited Pakistan for dialogue, but accusations and tensions persist.

Unfruitful Outcome of the ‘Moscow Format’ Consultation

The eighth round of the ‘Moscow Format’ consultation concluded without issuing any final statement. The meeting was hindered by ongoing disputes between the Taliban government and the Pakistani authorities, preventing a conclusive agreement.

Taliban’s Call for Dialogue

During the meeting, Amir Khan Mottaki, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, emphasized that despite recent tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, his country is ready for discussion. He stated that Kabul does not wish for the bilateral relationship to devolve into mutual accusations.

Pakistan’s Attacks and Reciprocal Accusations

Mottaki referred to recent Pakistani airstrikes in Helmand, Kunar, and Paktika provinces, claiming that schools and hospitals were targeted in these assaults. In response, Muhammad Sadiq Khan, Pakistan’s Special Representative, defended the anti-terrorism operations conducted in Afghanistan.

Civilian Casualties

UNAMA reported that at least 10 civilians were killed and 9 others injured in the Pakistani airstrikes on October 1, with many of the victims being children. Overall, since the beginning of 2026, approximately 1,100 Afghan civilians have lost their lives in border conflicts.

Continued Discussions Amid Challenges

Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, noted that participants expressed a desire to continue consultations and discussions. Moscow remains hopeful of creating a platform for reconciliation between the Taliban government and Pakistan.

Presence of Representatives from Other Countries

This consultation included representatives from the Taliban, Pakistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. However, the differences among the participating countries led to an absence of a final agreement.