Representatives from Iran, Russia, China, and Pakistan are expected to meet in Moscow on Monday, 6 October, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, sources told Afghanistan International.
Opposition to the establishment of any foreign military bases particularly Bagram will be high on the agenda, according to the sources.
According to the sources, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, Iran’s representative Reza Bahrami, China’s special envoy Yue Xiaoyong, and a senior official from Russia’s Foreign Ministry will attend the meeting.
The talks are expected to focus on opposing any foreign military presence in Afghanistan, reviewing travel exemptions for Taliban officials, discussing the formation of an inclusive national government, and addressing the release of Afghanistan’s frozen assets.
Separately, Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the “Moscow Format” meeting on Afghanistan will take place a day later, bringing together regional representatives and the Taliban’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. The Taliban minister is scheduled to arrive in Moscow on Monday to participate in the event.
The two meetings follow renewed calls by US President Donald Trump to return American forces to Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul. Russia, Iran, and China have publicly opposed the proposal, warning it would destabilise the region, while Pakistan has adopted a more cautious stance.
