Seventh Moscow Format Meeting On Afghanistan Opens In Russia

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.

He add that “Afghans will never allow their land to be handed over to anyone under any circumstances.”

Mujahid also confirmed that the Taliban has held discussions with the United States about reopening Afghanistan’s embassy in Washington and the US embassy in Kabul, but gave no details on progress.

Recognition and Legitimacy

The Taliban spokesman claimed that the group does not face a “legitimacy problem,” asserting that “many countries have privately recognised” its government.

He declined to name any such countries, although Russia remains the only state to have formally recognised the Taliban since they seized power four years ago.

Ban on Girls’ Education

Asked whether girls would be allowed to return to schools, Mujahid said: “I cannot make any promises about that.”

The Taliban’s Ministry of Education continues to describe the closure of girls’ schools as “temporary,” saying they will reopen once policies are aligned with “Islamic Sharia and Afghan culture.”

However, after four years in power, no plan has been announced to reopen secondary schools or universities for girls.

Internet Blackout and Accountability

Afghanistan recently endured a 48-hour internet blackout that paralysed banking, aviation, and communications services nationwide. Mujahid said he did not know the cause of the outage and would not confirm whether it was ordered by Taliban authorities.

“We have not received any official statement from the Ministry of Telecommunications, so we are not in a position to comment,” he said.

However, one Afghan internet service provider told customers by email that the shutdown had been ordered by the Taliban government. Human rights activists condemned the blackout as censorship that disproportionately affected women who rely on online education.

Ban on Women’s Medical Education

Women are no longer permitted to study medicine or nursing under Taliban rule. The United Nations has called the policy “deeply discriminatory, short-sighted, and life-threatening for women and girls in multiple ways.”

Mujahid defended the ban, saying Afghanistan “has enough female doctors,” and insisted that religious scholars would review the matter “within the framework of Islamic Sharia.”

Despite mounting international criticism, Taliban officials maintain that the country has “progressed” under their rule and is building lasting relations with regional powers.

According to a statement from the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued

on Sunday Ambassador Ünal also invited Azizi to participate in the Halal Expo 2025, which will take place in Istanbul from 27 to 30 November, following the ECO meeting.

The Fifth ECO Trade Ministers’ Meeting is scheduled for 24–26 November in Istanbul. The Taliban said the meeting between Ünal and Azizi also focused on expanding bilateral trade, facilitating transit, and attracting foreign investment to Afghanistan.

The 17th ECO Summit of Heads of State was held on 3–4 July in Azerbaijan, where Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, represented Afghanistan and urged that the next summit the 18th ECO meeting be held in Kabul. He said the Taliban were fully prepared to host the gathering.

The ECO member states include Iran, Pakistan, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

The Taliban’s announcement of the invitation comes as several regional organisations of which Afghanistan is a member have so far declined to invite Taliban representatives to their meetings.

Last year’s ECO Council of Foreign Ministers’ expert-level meeting in Mashhad, Iran, was held without Taliban participation. At the time, an Iranian official said the decision not to invite the group had been made by the organisation’s secretariat.