Pakistan, China and Afghanistan on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to deepen regional cooperation, with an agreement to extend the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan.
The decision came at the Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, held in Kabul on August 20 and attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The three sides said the extension of CPEC would boost trade, transit and development opportunities for Afghanistan, linking it more closely with regional markets.
In a joint statement, the ministers also pledged to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism and drug trafficking. They underscored the importance of coordinated security efforts to stabilise the region.
The dialogue further reaffirmed collaboration in health, education, culture and regional connectivity. “We remain committed to promoting peace, development and prosperity in the region,” the statement said.
On the sidelines of the Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue between Pakistan, China and Afghanistan in Kabul, DPM Dar pressed Afghanistan to take “concrete and verifiable” steps against terrorists groups of launching cross-border attacks, during a bilateral meeting with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Dar voiced concern over a surge in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, blaming groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade.
“Progress in political and commercial ties is encouraging, but cooperation in the security domain, especially counter-terrorism, continues to lag behind,” he said. Muttaqi reaffirmed Kabul’s commitment to ensuring Afghan soil is not used against Pakistan or any other country.
Both ministers welcomed the recent elevation of diplomatic ties from chargé d’affaires to ambassador level, a decision finalised at their May meeting in Beijing. They also reviewed earlier engagements, including Dar’s visits to Kabul in April and July, noting that most decisions from those talks had been implemented or were nearing completion.
Dar thanked the Afghan government for its hospitality and congratulated Kabul for hosting the trilateral dialogue.
Dar attended UAP) Railway Corridor ceremony
Earlier in July, DPM Ishaq Dar attended the signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the Uzbek–Afghan–Pakistan (UAP) Railway Corridor in Kabul.
Dar congratulated the leadership of the three countries, saying, “I congratulate the people & governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan on the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the UAP Railway Corridor.”
Read More: Dar hails UAP railway agreement
He was accompanied by special representative for Afghanistan, and Railways minister and secretary. Dar also met with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Both sides agreed on the need to strengthen efforts to maintain the momentum in bilateral relations and to expand cooperation in trade, transit, and security for the mutual benefit of both nations.
Describing the UAP Railway Corridor as a significant milestone, Dar said, “This will connect Central Asian countries to Pakistani seaports through Afghanistan.”
