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At Russia's annual Moscow Format talks, Afghan Taliban officials were treated as key regional partners despite global isolation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offered diplomatic legitimacy to his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, who praised Russia's recognition of the Taliban government as a turning point for bilateral cooperation.
Delegates from China, India, Pakistan, and Central Asia also took part and discussed terrorism threats. Russia opposed any foreign military presence in the region, signaling a shift toward regional self-management.