MOSCOW — Oct. 5, 2026 — Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said Monday that Afghanistan and Pakistan can resolve their disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, even as he accused Islamabad of relying on military pressure and asserted Kabul’s right to defend itself against what it considers aggression.
The remarks came during the eighth Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan, a regional meeting hosted in the Russian capital. A Russian Foreign Ministry notice said the session would address political and economic cooperation with Afghanistan, regional coordination, terrorism and drug trafficking.
According to Reuters, Muttaqi said the two neighbors’ problems could be managed through peaceful negotiations. He also accused Pakistan’s military of favoring force over political understanding, using transit routes, refugees and students as pressure points, and massing armed personnel near the border.
Those are claims by the Afghan minister. Zark News has not independently verified them. Reuters reported that Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, military and Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on his remarks.
Pakistan’s stated position
Pakistan has repeatedly accused authorities in Kabul of harboring or failing to restrain militants who carry out attacks across the border. Afghanistan’s Taliban government denies that allegation and says Pakistan’s militancy problem is internal.
In an Oct. 1 press briefing, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Islamabad remained open to friendly relations and dialogue, but made improved ties conditional on what it described as a complete stop to infiltration and militant activity originating from Afghan territory. The briefing also said the two governments remained in contact through different channels.
Pakistan’s allegations against Kabul are disputed and have not been independently established by Zark News. The Taliban government has rejected them.
No confirmed bilateral meeting
Muttaqi’s comments were delivered in the context of the multilateral Moscow Format. As of publication, Zark News had not found authoritative confirmation that a separate bilateral Pakistan-Taliban meeting took place on the sidelines.
The latest exchange underscores the widening gap between the neighbors: both publicly invoke dialogue, but each accuses the other of contributing to insecurity. No new cross-border agreement or formal de-escalation mechanism was announced with Muttaqi’s remarks.
Visual: Zark News illustration. This article will be updated if Pakistan issues a direct response or participating governments publish a joint statement.
