China makes Taliban regime, Islamabad agree on ties upgrade – Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Wednesday in principle to update their diplomatic relations exchanging ambassadors, a key step to normalize ties after years of tense relations between Islamabad and the Taliban administration in Kabul.

Understanding was achieved during an informal trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan in Beijing. The conversations were part of Beijing’s broader effort to relieve regional tensions and advance connectivity through its Belt and Road initiative.

“Afghanistan and Pakistan expressed a clear will to raise diplomatic relations and agreed in principle to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a statement issued by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“China appreciates this and will continue to provide assistance to improve Afghanistan-Pakistan relations,” said Yi.

China, Pakistan agrees to the extension of CPEC to Kabul

In addition, Pakistan and China pointed out that there was an agreement on the extension of the Chinese-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan.

Although no country has formally recognized the Taliban regime since its return to power in 2021, several, including China, the United Arab Emirates and Russia, keep the ambassadors in Kabul. China and Eau also receive ambassadors designated by the Taliban, while Russia last month agreed to accept an ambassador Taliban in Moscow.

Pakistan and Afghanistan currently only have a charge of issues published in the capital of the other.

Wednesday’s meeting followed a thaw in the ties of Pakistan-Fanganistan, which have been tarnished by a deep distrust, cross-border attacks and acute disagreements about the presence of the prohibited militants of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) that operate from the Afghan territory. Islamabad has long accused Kabul to house TTP fighters, who were blamed for a 70 percent increase in attacks within Pakistan in 2024.

The recent diplomatic efforts have aimed to change the course. In March 2025, special envoy for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq visited Kabul for the first time in more than a year. His mission was followed by a high -level visit by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, ISHAQ Dar, on April 19, where both parties promised to prevent their territories from being used for terrorist activities and agreed trade facilitation measures.

The trilateral meeting in Beijing was based even more on this impulse. China, which has strategic interests in regional stability and economic integration, organized the meeting to help resume the trilateral dialogue of China-Affanistan-Pakistan, which had stopped since 2023.

The key results of the Beijing meeting. In addition to the agreement on the appointment of ambassadors in the capitals of others, it included commitments to improve cooperation in security and anti -terrorism, including joint action against militant groups and external interference; support to extend the Chinese-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan; and an understanding to formally resume the trilateral process by calling the sixth dialogue of China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers in Kabul.

“The Vice Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promote nearby and cooperative ties with Afghanistan, especially in commerce, traffic, health and connectivity,” said Pakistan’s foreign office in a statement after the meeting.

China emphasized that all parties must “safeguard their sovereignty, national security and dignity” and reiterated their support for regional partners seeking development paths “adequate for their national conditions.”

With Wednesday’s developments, Pakistan and China seem to be betting that the deepest commitment and economic incentives can approach Kabul and the instability of temperament in the region.

CPEC extension

Wang Yi pointed out Chinese and Pakistani support for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, and preparation to expand commercial exchanges with Afghanistan. He also said that there was an agreement on “the extension of the Chinese-Pakistan economic corridor to Afghanistan.”

The same was echoed, which said: “China and Pakistan reiterated their support to extend the Chinese-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan under the widest framework of the cooperation of the Belt and Road initiative (BRI).”

The three parts seemed cautiously optimistic about progress towards normalized ties between Islamabad and Kabul.

“The standardization process will not be fast,” said an unauthorized diplomat to speak publicly, “but the fact that Islamabad and Kabul speak again to this level and agree in principle ambassadors is a significant development.”

For Beijing, who has maintained an ambassador to Kabul and acknowledged an envoy designated by Talibanes last year, the meeting reflects a “minifulilateralism” strategy, which is an objective diplomatic format aimed at addressing specific regional challenges.

The importance of the meeting is increased by the recent diplomatic oberturas of India to the Taliban, including a call last week among the Minister of External Affairs of India, S. Jaishankar and Amir Khan Muttaqi. This occurs in the midst of the growing Taliban frustration with Pakistan about refugee deportations and border closures.

Posted in Dawn, May 22, 2025



Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *