New Delhi: India has joined Russia, China and seven other nations in rejecting attempts to deploy foreign military infrastructure in Afghanistan, amid renewed global debate following US President Donald Trump’s calls for the Taliban to hand over the strategic Bagram airbase to Washington.
The joint stance emerged during a new round of “Moscow Format” talks held on Monday, where participating countries held extensive discussions on promoting peace, stability, and development in Afghanistan.
In a joint statement, the nations termed as “unacceptable” any attempts by external powers to establish military facilities in Afghanistan or neighbouring countries, saying such moves would undermine regional peace and stability.
For the first time, Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi participated in the Moscow Format talks.
Just weeks earlier, President Trump had publicly urged the Taliban to return the Bagram airbase—originally built by the United States during its two-decade-long military presence—to US control.
The countries attending the talks also stressed the need to bolster counterterrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
“They emphasised that Afghanistan should take comprehensive measures to eliminate terrorism within a short timeframe, ensuring that its soil is not used to threaten the security of neighbouring nations or beyond,” the joint statement said.
The group underscored that terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to Afghanistan, the wider region, and the world.
Besides India, Russia, and China, the talks included Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The participants also highlighted the importance of strengthening Afghanistan’s economic and trade ties with regional partners and supported its “active integration into the system of regional connectivity.”
India’s delegation, led by Ambassador Vinay Kumar, reaffirmed New Delhi’s consistent position in support of an independent, peaceful, and stable Afghanistan that contributes to regional prosperity and global security.
“Ambassador Kumar reiterated India’s belief that a secure, peaceful and stable Afghanistan serves the interests of the Afghan people and is fundamental to regional resilience and global security,” the Indian Embassy in Moscow said in a statement.
In his address, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the regional and global situation remains “complicated” but acknowledged progress under the Taliban administration.
“We can see that your government is working towards stability in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. It is generally agreed that there have been major positive changes in the struggle against the terrorist threat,” Lavrov said.
He noted that UN agencies have reported a significant decrease in narcotic crop cultivation in Afghanistan and expressed Russia’s willingness to provide comprehensive assistance to Kabul in combating drug trafficking, terrorism, and organised crime, while promoting a peaceful life for the Afghan people.
With PTI inputs