Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has invited the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to attend the next round of Moscow Format talks, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

According to a statement released by the Taliban, the invitation was extended during a phone conversation between the two officials, marking the first formal contact since Russia officially recognised the Taliban government. Russia recently became the first country to recognise the Taliban regime.

During the call, the two ministers reportedly discussed regional security and cooperation in combating drug trafficking. Lavrov noted that Russia’s recognition of the Taliban government had paved the way for enhanced political, economic and international collaboration, the statement said.

The Moscow Format talks are aimed at fostering dialogue on Afghanistan’s future and regional stability. Although no specific date has been announced, Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, has indicated that the next round of talks is expected to take place between September and October 2025.