Pakistan, China agree to extend CPEC into Afghanistan

Pakistan, China and Afghanistan have agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghan territory, marking a significant step in trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The agreement came during an informal trilateral meeting held in Beijing on Wednesday between Pakistan’s 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 termed their cooperation vital for regional stability and agreed that economic integration was key to shared progress. They also stressed the importance of combating terrorism and working collectively toward peace and sustainable development.

During his bilateral meeting with Wang Yi, the Deputy Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for China’s core interests and thanked Beijing for its consistent support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and security.

Wang Yi described Pakistan as China’s “iron brother” and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Pakistan’s development and regional stability. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the ongoing progress of CPEC and welcomed third-party participation in its second phase.

The ministers also discussed enhancing cooperation in agriculture, ICT, industry, and investment. They pledged to maintain coordination on regional and global forums and reiterated their commitment to multilateralism.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar called for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions, describing it as essential for long-term peace in South Asia.