Lavrov meets Afghan foreign minister ahead of Moscow format talks
Version 2: TASS has added that the Lavrov–Muttaqi meeting is being held in a format closed to the press, which sits alongside Interfax's report filed by a correspondent at the scene.
In short
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a meeting in Moscow with Afghanistan's foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, ahead of a session of the Moscow format on Afghanistan, Interfax and RIA Novosti reported. Interfax said the session will be held at the level of special representatives and senior officials of Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with Belarus and Egypt invited as guests. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the agenda covers regional political and economic interaction with Afghanistan and cooperation against terrorism and illegal drug trafficking, and a joint statement is planned.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Moscow with Afghanistan's foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, Interfax and RIA Novosti reported. Interfax, whose correspondent reported from the scene, said the meeting was taking place before the start of a session of the Moscow format on Afghanistan, and that the Foreign Ministry had said the bilateral agenda covered current areas of cooperation. TASS reported that the meeting was being held in a format closed to the press, an account the other documents do not address. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Interfax said the Moscow format session will be held at the level of special representatives or senior officials of Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Delegations from Belarus and Egypt were invited as guests. [ 1 ]
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, participants will give priority to how countries in the region interact with Afghanistan in the political and economic spheres, and to strengthening regional cooperation against terrorism and illegal drug trafficking. A joint statement is planned at the end of the session. [ 1 ]
The documents do not say what was discussed or agreed between Lavrov and Muttaqi, who will represent each country at the session, or what the planned joint statement will contain. RIA Novosti's headline stated that the meeting had begun, and TASS's that it was closed to the press, without further detail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The Moscow format is the regional consultation channel the documents describe for engaging Afghanistan, bringing together Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Central Asian states. The stated focus on counterterrorism and drug trafficking and the plan for a joint statement point to security cooperation as the practical aim, though the documents give no indication of what the statement will say.
Key facts
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a meeting in Moscow with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi [ 1 , 2 ]
- Interfax said the meeting took place before the start of a session of the Moscow format on Afghanistan [ 1 ]
- TASS said the meeting was held in a format closed to the press [ 3 ]
- The Moscow format session is held at the level of special representatives or senior officials of Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan [ 1 ]
- Delegations from Belarus and Egypt were invited as guests [ 1 ]
- The Russian Foreign Ministry said the agenda covers regional interaction with Afghanistan in the political and economic spheres and cooperation against terrorism and illegal drug trafficking [ 1 ]
- A joint statement is planned at the end of the session [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the Lavrov–Muttaqi meeting was open or closed to the press Interfax said its correspondent reported from the scene, while TASS said the meeting was held in a format closed to the press; the documents do not reconcile the two accounts.
- What was discussed or agreed in the Lavrov–Muttaqi meeting, and whether it had ended Interfax reported only that the meeting was under way and RIA Novosti only that it had begun; neither document gives an outcome.
- Which individuals will represent each country at the Moscow format session Interfax states the level of participation but names no representatives.
- The content of the planned joint statement Interfax says a statement is planned but does not say what it will contain.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Interfax reports that Lavrov is holding a meeting in Moscow with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, ahead of the Moscow format session on Afghanistan [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that Lavrov has begun the meeting with the Afghan foreign minister [ 2 ]
- TASS reports that the meeting is taking place in a format closed to the press [ 3 ]