New Delhi: India has joined Russia, China, Pakistan, and several Central Asian nations in opposing any attempts to establish foreign military bases or infrastructure in Afghanistan, a stance that comes amid recent remarks by US President Donald Trump urging the Taliban to hand over the Bagram airbase to the United States.
The position was articulated during the latest round of the Moscow Format talks held in Moscow, where representatives from ten countries discussed regional security, counterterrorism cooperation, and economic development in Afghanistan. The joint statement issued after the meeting described as “unacceptable” any effort by outside powers to deploy military assets in Afghanistan or its neighbouring states, saying such actions would undermine regional peace and stability.
For the first time, Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi attended the forum, which also saw participation from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The countries collectively emphasised that Afghanistan must take concrete steps to eliminate terrorism and prevent its territory from being used to threaten neighbouring nations or global security. They also underlined the importance of strengthening counterterrorism efforts at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
The statement highlighted the need to deepen Afghanistan’s economic engagement with the region, supporting its integration into regional connectivity and trade networks to promote long-term stability and growth.
Representing India, Ambassador Vinay Kumar reiterated New Delhi’s consistent position that a peaceful, independent, and stable Afghanistan is vital for regional security and prosperity. The Indian embassy in Moscow said Kumar reaffirmed India’s support for the Afghan people’s socioeconomic development and emphasised that regional resilience depends on Afghanistan’s stability.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, addressing the session, said the regional and global environment remains “complicated” but acknowledged progress under the Taliban administration in curbing terrorism and reducing narcotics cultivation. He reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to assist Afghanistan in combating drug trafficking, terrorism, and organised crime, while promoting lasting peace and stability for its citizens.
