Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any foreign military presence in Afghanistan could spark new conflicts, urging Western nations to abandon “destabilizing policies” and respect regional sovereignty.
Speaking at the opening of the seventh Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan on Tuesday, October, Lavrov said Afghanistan’s future cannot be decided without Afghans themselves.
“Afghanistan’s history is full of examples of foreign military presence. I believe everyone should have drawn the right conclusions long ago,” he said.
“Afghanistan’s problems cannot be solved without Afghans themselves.”
The talks, held in Moscow, brought together representatives from Russia, India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to discuss Afghanistan’s political, security, and humanitarian situation.
For the first time, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi attended as an official participant.
Lavrov Warns Against Foreign Military Presence in Afghanistan
Lavrov noted that Afghanistan’s history is full of examples of foreign military presence and urged Western governments to “rethink their approach,” adding that humanitarian aid should not be tied to political conditions.
The diplomat confirmed that Russia formally recognized the Taliban government in July, paving the way for expanded cooperation in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, and trade.
He also criticized the continued freezing of Afghanistan’s foreign assets by Western nations, saying such measures have worsened the country’s economic crisis.
The Moscow Format, established in 2017, has become a key diplomatic platform for regional powers seeking to coordinate policy on Afghanistan while limiting Western influence in the region.
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The Russian foreign minister also urged international donors to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan without attaching political conditions, highlighting the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Lavrov noted that the situation is worsened by natural disasters and climate instability, with over half of Afghanistan’s population—22 million of 39 million people—requiring humanitarian assistance, while 21 million lack access to clean water and basic healthcare.
“The situation is further exacerbated by natural disasters and climate instability. More than half of the country’s population — specifically, 22 million of its 39 million people — require humanitarian assistance. 21 million lack access to clean drinking water and basic healthcare,” he said.
“Russia, for its part, will continue to provide and increase humanitarian assistance to the Islamic Emirate.”
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Russia Becomes First Country to Recognize Taliban Govt in Afghanistan
Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan.
In a statement on July 3, 2025, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow saw strong prospects for developing ties and would continue to support Kabul in areas such as security and counterterrorism.
“We believe that the act of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields,” the ministry said.
The Taliban declared an interim government in Afghanistan after seizing power on 15 August 2021, following the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces and the fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan continues to face severe humanitarian and economic challenges, which have been further exacerbated by natural disasters, including the earthquakes of June 2022 and October 2023, as well as the floods in April 2024.
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