MOSCOW, October 5. /TASS/. There is no alternative to the course toward equality-based partnership with Kabul and its integration into the international economic system, the Russian Foreign Ministry said after the eighth meeting of the Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan that was held in Moscow.

"Participants in the meeting reaffirmed that there is no alternative to the course toward building equality-based mutually beneficial cooperation with Kabul and integrating Afghanistan into the system of international economic ties," it said.

Participants "once again called on the international community to ensure regular humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and stressed the inadmissibility of its politicization," it noted.

According to the ministry, the Moscow format is an "authoritative multilateral platform where countries of the region coordinate their practical approaches to the Afghani problems."

The Moscow meeting was attended by special envoys and senior officials from Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The Afghan delegation was led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Delegations from Belarus and Egypt took part in the meeting as guests. The meeting was opened by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"Lavrov held a separate meeting with Muttaqi on the sidelines of the event. The two top diplomats discussed prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation and cooperation within international and regional formats," the ministry added.