India, China, Russia back Afghan stability

Representatives from eleven countries, including India, China, Iran, Pakistan and Russia, reaffirmed their "unwavering support for the establishment of Afghanistan as an independent, united and peaceful state" during the seventh Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan held on Tuesday. For the first time, an Afghan delegation led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaqi participated in the meeting as a full member. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the talks brought together special representatives and senior officials from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with Belarus attending as a guest. The joint statement emphasised the need to…