Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China Agree to Restore Diplomatic Ties and Expand Economic Cooperation

In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China held an informal trilateral meeting in Beijing on May 21, 2025, marking renewed efforts to strengthen regional cooperation and restore formal diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Kabul after nearly four years of strained ties.

The foreign ministers of the three countries—Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi—convened under a forum originally established in 2017, which aims to promote peace, stability, and development in the region.

A key outcome of the meeting was the mutual agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan to upgrade their diplomatic relations by exchanging ambassadors, a step welcomed and supported by China. Wang Yi emphasized China’s commitment to assisting both countries in improving bilateral ties and fostering regional cooperation.

The meeting also focused on expanding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major $62 billion infrastructure and development initiative under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to include Afghanistan. This extension aims to enhance trade, connectivity, and economic development across the region.

A Pakistani diplomat involved in the talks described the meeting as a “significant confidence- and trust-building exercise” and expressed optimism about the progress made. The next round of trilateral talks is expected to take place soon, continuing the momentum toward deeper cooperation.

The trilateral dialogue comes amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India, following a recent exchange of missile and drone strikes. While China has called for restraint in the Indo-Pak conflict, it has also provided military support to Pakistan, highlighting its strategic role in the region.

Beyond economic and diplomatic ties, the three countries agreed to enhance cooperation on security and counter-terrorism, including joint efforts to address militant groups and external interference affecting regional stability.

The trilateral mechanism is set to reconvene for its sixth Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue in Kabul at an early date, signaling a commitment to sustained engagement.

This renewed collaboration reflects a strategic realignment in South Asia, with China playing a central role in facilitating dialogue and development initiatives aimed at fostering peace and prosperity in a historically volatile region.

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