Afghanistan objects to terrorist mention in Moscow talks statement, Russia says
In short
Afghanistan expressed dissatisfaction with the mention of the country in a terrorist context in the final statement of the Moscow-format consultations on Afghanistan, RBC reported, citing a Russian presidential special representative who said Kabul considers the situation to have changed over the past year. RIA Novosti reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the consultations held in Moscow. Neither outlet gave the date of the meeting or the wording of the statement at issue.
Why it matters
The Moscow format is one of the few channels in which Russia engages the Taliban authorities directly, so a public objection from Kabul over the wording of a joint statement points to friction inside a process Moscow has promoted. The documents give no indication of consequences beyond the stated dissatisfaction, and no further steps are described.
Key facts
- Afghanistan expressed dissatisfaction with the mention of the country in a terrorist context in the final statement of the Moscow-format consultations, according to RBC. [ 1 ]
- A special representative of the Russian president said Kabul believes the situation has changed over the past year. [ 1 ]
- The Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the consultations on Afghanistan held in Moscow, RIA Novosti reported. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The exact wording of the final statement that Afghanistan objected to. Only RBC refers to it, and it does not quote the text or name the passage concerned.
- When the consultations took place. Neither document gives a date or time for the meeting itself; only publication times are available.
- What the Foreign Ministry said in its comment. The RIA Novosti entry consists of a headline only, with no summary or article text.
- Whether the consultations had concluded or were still under way when the reports were published. Neither document states the status of the meeting.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RBC publishes its report that Afghanistan was dissatisfied with the mention of the country in a terrorist context in the final statement of the Moscow-format consultations. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti publishes a report that the Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow. [ 2 ]