In a significant geopolitical development, China has agreed to extend its ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project into Afghanistan. The decision was made during an informal trilateral meeting in Beijing involving Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Pakistan’s foreign office issued a statement confirming the expansion of CPEC under the broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at strengthening regional connectivity and economic integration. The meeting also marks the first high-level engagement between Pakistan and China following India’s targeted anti-terror operation ‘Sindoor’ in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Ishaq Dar emphasized that Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan are united in their vision for regional peace, stability, and development. The leaders discussed boosting diplomatic engagement, infrastructure development, and trade cooperation.
The expansion of the $60 billion CPEC through Afghanistan adds strategic depth to China’s BRI agenda but has raised fresh concerns in India, which has consistently opposed the project since it passes through PoK—territory claimed by India.
The three nations agreed to hold the sixth formal trilateral meeting in Kabul at a mutually convenient date, signaling a continued push for deeper strategic and economic cooperation despite regional tensions.
