China's FM to visit Pakistan after India trip

Yi heads to Islamabad on Aug 21 after crucial New Delhi stop

ISLAMABAD:

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi will arrive in Islamabad this week to lead his country in the Pakistan-China strategic dialogue and hold meetings with the civil and military leadership to discuss bilateral ties along with key regional and international developments.

Official sources told The Express Tribune on Sunday that the top Chinese diplomat will undertake a two-day visit beginning on August 21, flying in directly from New Delhi, where he starts a crucial tour on Monday.

In Islamabad, the Chinese foreign minister will review the current state of bilateral ties between the two countries and discuss key regional and international developments.

His visit comes against a backdrop of a host of developments, including the India-Pakistan military conflict in May, the Iran-Israel war in June and the recent warming of ties between Pakistan and the United States.

China's support played a pivotal role in Pakistan's victory over India during the four-day conflict. Although Beijing did not participate directly, Chinese J-10C fighters and PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles (BVR) helped Pakistan shoot down six Indian fighter jets, including French-made Rafales.

China also extended diplomatic backing to Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, supporting Islamabad's call for a third-party investigation into the incident that brought the two nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of full-scale war.

Given the current geostrategic environment, both sides are expected to explore ways to further deepen cooperation. Contacts between the two countries have increased markedly in recent months.

During Wang's visit, the agenda of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's upcoming trip to China is also expected to be finalised. The prime minister is likely to travel later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and hold bilateral meetings with the Chinese leadership.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to visit Dhaka on August 23, in a trip that was twice postponed due to regional tensions. Dar was initially scheduled to visit Bangladesh in April, but the Pahalgam attack and ensuing Pakistan-India military escalation delayed the trip.

The forthcoming visit highlights the steady improvement in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. Since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina Wajid a year ago, ties between the two countries have undergone a dramatic shift.

The former Awami League government maintained minimal engagement with Pakistan. However, the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Younus moved to restore ties by lifting restrictions on Pakistani exports and diplomats, and by commencing direct sea trade.

Dar's trip is part of efforts to consolidate the rapprochement, with formal talks scheduled with his Bangladeshi counterpart and Chief Advisor Muhammad Younus.

Ahead of the visit, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal will be in Dhaka this week for discussions on trade and commercial ties.

It is expected that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb may follow in September to attend the first Pakistan-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission meeting in 20 years.