Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, May 23, 2025, Delhi : The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is set to expand into Afghanistan, with a formal agreement reached between the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. This development marks a significant milestone in trilateral cooperation, despite objections from India regarding the project’s route through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The agreement was solidified following a meeting in Beijing, where the leaders from the three countries convened to discuss economic and security cooperation.
The discussions took place on the heels of a visit by Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to China. During this visit, he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The meeting underscored the nations’ shared commitment to fostering regional stability, security, and development. The expansion of CPEC into Afghanistan is seen as a crucial step towards enhancing infrastructure, trade, and diplomatic relations within the region.
Ishaq Dar, who is in Beijing for a three-day visit, marked his first foreign trip after the launch of India’s Operation Sindoor targeting terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Despite the contentious backdrop, the foreign ministers reaffirmed their dedication to regional peace and cooperation, with Dar emphasizing their collective vision for regional prosperity and stability.
A joint statement released by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry confirmed that the three nations had agreed to strengthen their diplomatic ties and improve communication, particularly to facilitate trade and development. The extension of the CPEC project to Afghanistan was presented as part of the broader vision to deepen cooperation under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The trilateral meeting not only focused on economic matters but also emphasized countering terrorism, with the foreign ministers expressing a united stance on regional security. It was also disclosed that Afghanistan and Pakistan had agreed in principle to send ambassadors to one another’s countries in the near future, further signaling the intention to build stronger diplomatic relations.
India, however, continues to oppose the CPEC, which is valued at approximately USD 60 billion, due to its passage through disputed areas of Kashmir. India’s objections to the project were reiterated in light of the new developments.
The foreign ministers also agreed to convene the 6th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kabul at a mutually convenient time, where further steps towards strengthening the cooperation will be discussed. Following the successful conclusion of the meeting, the Foreign Office in Islamabad confirmed that China and Pakistan had reaffirmed their “iron-clad” friendship and shared vision for peace and development in the region.
This new phase of regional cooperation signals a strategic shift in the geopolitical landscape of South Asia, as China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan push forward with joint efforts to bolster their economic, diplomatic, and security relations, despite existing challenges and opposition from other regional actors.