Quadrilateral Moot concerned about 'presence of terrorist outfits in Afghanistan'

A view of the quadrilateral meeting in Moscow.

By Tahir Khan

MOSCOW 7 Oct 2025: A quadrilateral meeting of special representatives for Afghanistan, comprising Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran, convened in Moscow to address pressing regional security and peace concerns. 

According to Pakistan’s Special Representative Mohammad Sadiq (@AmbassadorSadiq), the meeting highlighted the "continued presence of designated terrorist organizations," including TTP, BLA, ETIM, Jaish ul-Adl, ISIL, and Al-Qaeda.

 In response to this shared threat, the four nations emphasized the critical importance of enhanced coordination and collaborative action to combat terrorism in all its forms.

The meeting reflects ongoing efforts by regional powers to stabilize Afghanistan and the wider area, focusing on eliminating safe havens for terrorist groups. 

The participating countries unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to a stable, sovereign, and peaceful Afghanistan, free from terrorism and external interference.

This Moscow Format forum, established in 2017, brings together 11 interested regional countries, including Afghanistan itself, Russia, China, Iran, India, Pakistan, and several Central Asian states. This year’s meeting in Moscow was particularly significant as Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, participated for the first time as a full member, marking an important diplomatic milestone.

Key issues discussed included counter-terrorism, drug trafficking prevention, Afghan refugee matters, and regional economic cooperation to support Afghanistan’s recovery from decades of conflict. The member states also reiterated their opposition to any foreign military bases being established in Afghanistan, stressing the importance of regional ownership over peace processes.

Pakistan’s delegation, led by Mohammad Sadiq, notably voiced concern about the recruitment, arming, and funding of terrorists on Afghan soil, urging greater measures to end such activities.

The Quadrilateral Meeting signals a renewed multilateral effort to strengthen peace and security in Afghanistan, encouraging practical cooperation among neighboring countries to address common challenges and support Afghanistan’s peaceful development.