"We intend to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism, illegal drug trade and to boost business ties," Lavrov said during his opening remarks at the seventh meeting of the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan.
Lavrov added that the official recognition by Moscow of Afghanistan's Taliban-led government in July of this year allowed lifting of restrictions on interstate cooperation.
"We give credit to Kabul that, regardless of serious external pressure and a relatively modest state budget, it manages to quite effectively combat terrorist groups, including the Afghan branch of the Islamic State terror group [banned in Russia]. Hundreds of militants who sowed death and destruction on Afghan territory have been eliminated," Lavrov said.
The first meeting of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan took place in April of 2017, with participation from Russia, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The main goal of the Moscow Format was to promote national reconciliation in Afghanistan and establish peace in the country.