News: India has recently participated in the 7th Moscow Format Consultations in Moscow along with Russia, China, Iran and Central Asian countries.
About Moscow Format
- It is a regional platform where neighbouring and major regional countries coordinate practical approaches to the Afghan peace settlement.
- Aim: It aims to coordinate regional approaches for an Afghan settlement, support independence and peace, counter terrorism and drugs, promote economic integration, and keep international humanitarian assistance depoliticised.
- Introduced in: It was introduced in 2017.
- Origin : It was formed on the basis of the earlier six-party consultation mechanism.
- Prior to this, Russia hosted six-party talks in February 2017 with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Iran, and India.
- Members
- Regular participants include Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, Pakistan, and five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
- Belarus joined as a guest delegation ( in 7th Moscow Format, 2025).
- Significance
- Formal inclusion of Taliban government: At the 7th meeting, the forum formally included a representative of the Taliban-led government for the first time.
- Security consensus and coordination: Participants opposed any foreign military infrastructure in Afghanistan.
- Economic and humanitarian alignment: The forum backed Afghanistan’s integration into regional economic systems.
