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India backed Afghanistan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity at the Moscow Format talks, reaffirming its commitment to the Afghan people.
India Voices Support For Afghanistan’s Sovereignty At Moscow Format (Photo: X/@IndEmbMoscow)
India has voiced support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity at the eighth Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow, reiterating its commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people.
An Indian delegation led by Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar and Joint Secretary (PAI) Dr M Suresh Kumar conveyed New Delhi’s position at the meeting hosted by Russia.
The consultations brought together officials from Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi led Afghanistan’s delegation, while Belarus and Egypt participated as guests.
“Based on its long-standing friendship with Afghanistan, India remains committed to the welfare of Afghan people and supports Afghan sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity,” the Embassy of India in Russia said in a post on X.
The reiteration of India’s position came as Pakistan has carried out cross-border military strikes into Afghanistan.
New Delhi’s position at the Moscow consultations was conveyed against the backdrop of those cross-border actions.
During the meeting, participants reaffirmed that there was no alternative to developing cooperation with Kabul on an equal and mutually beneficial basis and supporting Afghanistan’s integration into the global economy, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The participants also called on the international community to provide regular humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, stressing that such aid should not be politicised.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the forum brings together countries that have a stake in establishing and maintaining an equal and mutually beneficial partnership with the Afghan people.
“It offers an opportunity to hold a substantive discussion of matters related to providing international assistance to Afghanistan and, importantly, to do so in conjunction with Kabul,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov also said August 2026 marked the “fifth anniversary of Afghanistan’s liberation from two decades of Western occupation”.
He said the military presence of the US and its NATO allies had ended after what he described as the Afghan people’s “fighting spirit and determination”.
Lavrov also lauded Afghanistan’s “uncompromising fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups” and its efforts to combat drug trafficking.
He said hundreds of militants had been eliminated and several high-profile terror attacks had been foiled.
According to Lavrov, strengthening Kabul’s counterterrorism capabilities through material and expert assistance, along with maintaining contacts between intelligence and law enforcement agencies, serves the interests of all countries involved.
On Afghanistan’s economy, Lavrov said it continued to develop despite what he described as harsh sanctions pressure from Western countries.
The Moscow Format was established in 2017, with the participation of special representatives from 11 countries, including Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China and Pakistan.
Its main objective is to promote national reconciliation in Afghanistan and facilitate the establishment of peace in the country.
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Ask News18At the eighth Moscow Format Consultations, India voiced support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity while reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people. An Indian delegation led by Ambassador Vinay Kumar and Dr M Suresh Kumar conveyed this position.
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Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
October 07, 2026, 09:18 IST
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