Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on the sidelines of the Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry announced.

According to statements from both sides, the discussions focused on bilateral cooperation and the situation in Afghanistan, with both ministers emphasizing that foreign interference in Afghan affairs is “not constructive.”

Hafiz Zia Ahmad, a Taliban’s foreign ministry spokesman, quoted Muttaqi as stating on the social media platform X, “The Moscow format holds special significance for Afghanistan, and we seek to transform it into a mechanism for enhancing cooperation between Afghanistan and regional countries.” The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry described the meeting as “promising,” noting that political, economic, and regional issues were addressed.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the meeting, stating that the two officials discussed efforts towards peace in Afghanistan, as well as opportunities for strengthening ties between Moscow and Kabul.