In a significant regional development, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have agreed to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, following informal trilateral talks in Beijing, according to a report by Reuters.
The meeting brought together:
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Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
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Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister
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Amir Khan Muttaqi, Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan
The ministers discussed strengthening diplomatic engagements and boosting trade, infrastructure, and development across the region. All three countries reiterated support for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and committed to extending CPEC into Afghanistan, showcasing what they called a “shared vision” for regional peace and development.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ishaq Dar said:
“Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan stand together for regional peace, stability, and development.”
Dar’s visit to Beijing is his first high-level diplomatic trip since recent India-Pakistan tensions escalated.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced that the 6th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be hosted in Kabul at an “early, mutually convenient date,” further institutionalizing the growing cooperation between the three nations.
A joint statement underscored their “iron-clad friendship” and commitment to peace and progress under the BRI framework.
India has repeatedly objected to the CPEC project, especially its passage through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), which India considers illegally occupied territory.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has previously warned that any third-country participation in CPEC is tantamount to violating Indian sovereignty. The expansion of CPEC into Afghanistan, a country that borders India’s strategic sphere of influence, is likely to draw further objections from New Delhi.
