Russia's growing embrace of Afghan Taliban regime is raising uncomfortable questions in Islamabad. Is Moscow simply pursuing its security interests, or is there more to its increasingly accommodating approach towards a regime that Pakistan accuses of sheltering terrorist groups responsible for attacks inside the country?

The questions gained urgency after the eighth round of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan ended on October 5 without a joint statement for the first time since the forum was established in 2017. The meeting brought together Pakistan, Russia, China, India, Iran, Afghanistan and several Central Asian countries. But differences between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border terrorism prevented participants from agreeing on a common position. Pakistan's special representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, reiterated Islamabad's concerns about terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory, particularly the TTP. Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi rejected the........

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