KABUL: Pakistan, China and Afghanistan on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen joint efforts against terrorism and deepen cooperation across political, economic and cultural spheres during a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers in Kabul.
The Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue brought together Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, and Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The three sides agreed to bolster collaboration in counterterrorism, trade and transit, regional development, health, education, culture, and anti-narcotics initiatives, while also supporting the planned extension of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
During the talks, Dar raised concerns over a recent surge in militant attacks inside Pakistan, which Islamabad says are being carried out by groups operating from Afghan soil. He called on Kabul to take “concrete and verifiable measures” against proscribed outfits such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade.
Muttaqi, in response, reiterated Afghanistan’s pledge that its territory would not be used by any group to threaten Pakistan or other countries. Both sides acknowledged progress in political and economic ties but agreed that security cooperation continues to lag.
Diplomatic Reset
Dar and Muttaqi also noted the recent upgrade in diplomatic representation between Islamabad and Kabul from chargé d’affaires to ambassadorial level — a symbolic step toward normalizing relations that have remained tense since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The Foreign Office said both sides welcomed progress in implementing earlier commitments, particularly in trade and transit, which have helped stabilize a fragile bilateral relationship.
Dar arrived in Kabul earlier in the day and was received by Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Naeem and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani.
Regional Context
The trilateral format, first launched in 2017, had been suspended since 2023 amid worsening ties and regional instability. Its resumption follows an informal meeting in Beijing in May, when the three countries agreed to restart the dialogue. At that meeting, Pakistan and Afghanistan also signaled readiness to exchange ambassadors — a step Beijing has encouraged as part of its wider push to promote stability in the region.
China, with its Belt and Road Initiative at the center of its regional strategy, has consistently urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to work through their differences to unlock new trade and energy corridors. The potential extension of CPEC — a multibillion-dollar flagship of the Belt and Road — into Afghanistan has been framed by Beijing as both a stabilizing economic opportunity and a counterweight to militancy.
The Kabul talks build on these efforts, underscoring how Pakistan, Afghanistan and China see mutual interest in securing their borders while seeking pathways for economic integration in a region where security challenges continue to overshadow development goals.