Uzbekistan Launches Energy Projects, Sees Afghanistan As Transit Hub

A spokesperson for Germany’s Interior Ministry said on Monday that while the Taliban had agreed in principle to accept deported Afghans, Berlin had offered “no concessions and no political recognition” in return.

A German delegation travelled to Kabul last week and met with officials from the Taliban’s Interior and Foreign Ministries, as well as airport authorities, to discuss the technical and administrative aspects of deportation procedures.

The Taliban reportedly agreed to accept Afghan citizens verified through charter flights. Germany’s interior minister had earlier suggested the use of commercial flights, but Taliban officials did not approve that option.

Amid criticism over direct engagement with the Taliban, the spokesperson defended the meeting, saying an in-person discussion in Kabul was “absolutely necessary” to resolve operational issues.

The spokesperson also dismissed reports that the talks covered broader cooperation, including counter-narcotics initiatives. “These discussions were strictly about the return of individuals,” they said.

Some Taliban representatives had earlier claimed that the meetings involved wider collaboration, including on drug control.

Germany has not recognised the Taliban administration and continues to criticise its human rights record, particularly its restrictions on women and girls. However, Berlin has decided to proceed with deportations of Afghan nationals who committed serious crimes or pose security risks.

Germany has previously carried out two deportation flights to Kabul with logistical support from Qatar. The latest trip marks the first visit by German officials to Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

The decision to engage directly with the Taliban has sparked controversy in Germany, with critics arguing that such contact risks legitimising a regime accused of systematic human rights abuses.

For the first time, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is attending the meeting as an official member. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier announced that a delegation from Belarus had also been invited.

Moscow Warns Against Foreign Military Presence

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned during the session that the presence of extra-regional military forces in Afghanistan could spark new conflicts.

“We firmly believe that the deployment of military infrastructure by third countries on Afghan territory, or in neighbouring states under any pretext, is unacceptable,” Lavrov said.

He also urged Western nations to “reconsider their approach” to Afghanistan, emphasising that humanitarian assistance to the country should not be linked to political conditions.

Bagram Air Base ‘Not on the Agenda’

Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special presidential envoy for Afghanistan, told the TASS news agency that the issue of the US ultimatum over Bagram Air Base was not on the Moscow Format’s agenda.

“No such nonsense will be discussed,” Kabulov said.

Sandra Ratjen, head of the ICJ’s International Justice Support Section, described the mechanism as a “crucial step forward in addressing the systematic rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan, particularly against women, girls, and LGBTQI+ persons.”

She said that after years of appeals from Afghans for accountability, the Human Rights Council had finally created a path toward justice that must be implemented “swiftly and with adequate resources.”

The ICJ warned that without additional funding, the new Afghanistan mechanism would be unable to carry out its mandate effectively.

Adopted on Monday, 6 October, the resolution establishes an independent investigative mechanism tasked with collecting, preserving, and analysing evidence of international crimes and serious violations of international law, including potential human rights abuses.

Modelled on similar mechanisms created for Syria and Myanmar, the new body will compile case files to support fair and independent judicial proceedings in national, regional, or international courts or tribunals.

The resolution also stipulates that the mechanism’s work will be implemented gradually, depending on available budgetary resources.

The appeal comes amid a financial shortfall at the UN, which has allocated just one per cent of its 2026 budget to human rights activities.

Ratjen said that while the UN’s funding crisis is real, so is “the dire situation facing Afghan women,” many of whom are banned from leaving home, working, or accessing education.

A report on the mechanism’s establishment will be presented at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council, with its operational capacity set for review during the 66th session.

The ICJ urged governments to ensure that financial constraints “no longer stand in the way of justice for Afghan victims and survivors.”

The ministry said the meeting focused on preparations for the upcoming session, including the drafting of the format’s final communiqué.

Sources told Afghanistan International that the four countries also discussed opposing the establishment of any foreign military bases inside Afghanistan, a topic expected to feature prominently in the main meeting.

According to the sources, participants included Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq; Iran’s representative for Afghan affairs, Reza Bahrami; China’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong; and an official from Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

The seventh Moscow Format meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 7 October. For the first time, a delegation led by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will attend as an official member.

The sixth round of the Moscow Format was held on 4 October last year, bringing together special envoys and senior officials from Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Muttaqi participated in that session as a guest.

During the previous meeting, participants urged the Taliban to establish a balanced, inclusive, and effective government that guarantees the fundamental rights and interests of all Afghans, including women, girls, and ethnic minorities.

The call came during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Malaysia, where he met with his counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim. Sharif’s visit began on Sunday and will continue until 7 October.

In a joint communiqué, the two leaders reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan and to ensuring a sustainable future for its people. They emphasised “the solidarity of the Islamic Ummah” and the importance of resolving international disputes peacefully, in accordance with international law and United Nations resolutions.

Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday, 5 October said the two leaders stressed the need for continued engagement with the Taliban, particularly in countering terrorism and preventing Afghan territory from being used to threaten or harm other nations.

They also underscored the importance of protecting Afghans’ fundamental rights, establishing an inclusive political system, and maintaining humanitarian and capacity-building assistance for Afghanistan.

Beyond Afghanistan, the two leaders discussed global issues, including the Middle East crisis. They expressed support for international efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting solution, including a viable path toward Palestinian statehood.