Lavrov Stresses Resolving Afghan Issues through Moscow, SCO

Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, criticized the Doha process and stressed that Afghanistan’s issues should be resolved through the Moscow format and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

At a press conference in Uzbekistan, Lavrov dismissed the Doha process as ineffective in addressing Afghanistan’s challenges.

Lavrov stated: “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization also has a relevant mechanism that we actively use. The coordination of these frameworks helps Afghan officials better understand the recommendations from neighboring countries—recommendations aimed at achieving national consensus within Afghan society.”

The senior Russian official criticized Western efforts to intervene in Afghan affairs, adding that regional countries, along with Pakistan, share a unified stance opposing NATO’s military presence in the region.

Lavrov said: “The key point is to prevent efforts to reinstate NATO countries’ military infrastructure under various pretexts, as such efforts could act like a new time bomb. In our communications with Central Asian counterparts, we observe a shared position—none of them want to host NATO military infrastructure, and Pakistan shares the same stance.”

This is not the first time senior Russian officials have criticized Western involvement in Afghan matters. Previously, the head of Russia’s foreign intelligence agency emphasized in a meeting in Azerbaijan that Western countries aim to keep Afghanistan in turmoil for their geopolitical objectives.

Jannat Faheem Chakari, a political analyst, commented: “Currently, there is a significant rivalry between East and West. If we can manage this situation well, we could greatly benefit from this competition; however, if we make mistakes, Afghanistan may suffer greatly.”

Russia’s criticism of the West’s approach comes amid improvements in Kabul-Moscow relations, with ongoing discussions about the interim government appointing an ambassador-level diplomat to Moscow.