Representatives from 10 countries attending the 7th Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan reaffirmed their support for a stable and independent Afghanistan and rejected any deployment of foreign military infrastructure in the country or its neighbors, according to a joint statement issued Tuesday.

The meeting, held on October 7, brought together senior officials and special envoys from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with Belarus attending as a guest. For the first time, a delegation from the Taliban - led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi - participated as a full member.

The participants said the presence of foreign military forces in Afghanistan or nearby states would be "unacceptable," warning that such actions would "not serve the interests of regional peace and stability." The statement comes amid renewed debate following President Trump`s repeated calls to "take back" the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, which was vacated by American forces in 2021.

The participants reaffirmed their "unwavering support for the establishment of Afghanistan as an independent, united and peaceful state." They also urged the countries "mainly responsible for the current predicament in Afghanistan" - a veiled reference to the United States and its allies - to fulfill their commitments toward the country`s economic recovery and development.

The statement emphasized the need to expand Afghanistan`s economic and trade cooperation with regional partners and integrate the country into broader connectivity projects. The countries expressed interest in joint development initiatives in healthcare, agriculture, poverty reduction, and disaster prevention, describing them as key to achieving sustainable growth in Afghanistan.

On security issues, the participants called for intensified counterterrorism cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels, saying Afghanistan must ensure that its territory is not used as a base to threaten neighboring states. They described terrorism as "a serious threat to the security of Afghanistan, the region, and the wider world."

The Moscow Format, established by Russia in 2017, serves as a regional dialogue platform focused on Afghanistan`s political settlement, security challenges, and humanitarian needs.

The statement also reaffirmed the participants` commitment to continue humanitarian aid for the Afghan people and urged the international community to increase assistance "without politicization."

Russia`s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov opened the meeting by praising the Taliban`s growing control over Afghanistan but warned against any foreign military buildup in the region, saying "the history of Afghanistan has shown the consequences of foreign presence."

The Moscow Format discussions come as Afghanistan faces deepening humanitarian and economic crises, with the United Nations estimating that more than half of the population - around 22 million people - require urgent aid.