NIAS GP Explainer

CWA # 1681
NIAS GP Explainer
China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Foreign Ministers meeting in Beijing
What is the background, and what did they discuss?

Femy Francis
23 May 2025

Photo Source: South China Morning Post

On 21 May, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi held an informal trilateral meeting in Beijing with his counterparts from Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. The highlight of the meeting was the call for the expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

What is the regional background?
First, the meeting comes in light of the military standoff between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam attacks, which killed 26 Indian civilians. This led to a series of escalations and military confrontations, with the eventual ceasefire between the two countries. One of the major highlights of the tensions was the arms supply by China to Pakistan. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China accounts for 81 per cent of Pakistan's arms imports from 2020 and 2024. In addition to supplying unmanned aerial and combat aerial vehicles, China also supplied SH-15 truck-mounted howitzer guns stationed near the LAC, and also set up communication towers near Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the LAC. Additionally, the Pakistan army uses China-made telecom gear, “Ultra Set,” exclusively made for Pakistan.  

Second, India-Afghanistan diplomatic call. India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar held a telephone conversation with Muttaqi. Jaishakar affirmed that India will take concrete steps to establish stronger ties with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Additionally, India will provide humanitarian aid and assistance to refugees from Afghanistan who were forcefully repatriated from Pakistan. The “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” deported 80,000 Afghans living in Pakistan as they were made to return to their country of origin.

Why CPEC and Afghanistan?
China and Pakistan are calling for an upgradation from CPEC 0.1 to CPEC 0.2, which now aims to expand the CPEC to Afghanistan. Wang Yi and Ishaq Dar agreed that the upgraded version will focus on cooperation in areas of agriculture, energy, mining, and security. CPEC is one of the flagship projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was launched in 2015, which aimed to connect China’s Xinjiang region to Pakistan’s Gwadar port through roads and railways. Afghanistan signed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2016. The same year, the first Chinese train traveled from China to Afghanistan’s port city of Hairatan. This kickstarted the Sino-Afghanistan Special Railway Transportation Project, to no avail.  In 2023, Taliban’s Commerce Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi urged China’s President Xi Jinping to let Afghanistan join in CPEC. Azizi noted that Afghanistan can offer China coveted mineral resources. He said: “China, which invests all over the world, should also invest in Afghanistan. We have everything they need, such as lithium, copper, and iron.”

It is reckoned that Afghanistan has mineral resources worth USD 1 trillion, mostly untapped. Currently, there are some Chinese firms actively engaging with Afghanistan, where China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (CPEIC) is involved in the oil extraction from the Amu Darya basin. China’s The Metallurgical Corp of China Ltd (MCC) aims to invest in the mining sector and is currently in talks with the Taliban to open a copper mine. As of now, Pakistan is Afghanistan’s largest trading partner, with China and India being second and third, respectively. Since this meeting, the three heads of state have not ratified anything on their plans for CPEC expansion.

What are the terrorism concerns?
The three heads of state agreed on the need to promote counter-terrorism initiatives. They agreed to oppose all forms of terrorism. Wang Yi stated that they will engage in security cooperation and remain “vigilant against external interference in regional countries' internal affairs.” Wang Yi noted that all three countries need to enhance political mutual trust and support friendly relations in the neighborhood. Engineers, envoys, and other Chinese nationals are often targeted by militant groups in Pakistan, often seen as an extension of the government and establishment. Pakistan has time and again expressed concerns regarding Afghanistan’s involvement with Pakistan’s militant groups and for acting as a safe haven for these terrorist groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, who are known to have Taliban support. The militant group Balochistan Liberation Army, accused of several recent terrorist attacks, has sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Muttaqi, during this meeting, vowed to give full support for counter-terrorism activities.

What else happened in Beijing?
On the sidelines Wang Yi and Ishaq Dar agreed to upgrade the CPEC collaboration in areas of energy, mining, counter-terrorism, and security. They also announced that the sixth trilateral foreign ministers meeting will be held in Kabul. On the meeting, Ishaq Dar said that they: “reaffirmed trilateral cooperation as a vital platform to promote regional security and economic connectivity.” Wang Yi noted that: “Afghanistan and Pakistan expressed clear willingness to elevate diplomatic relations and agreed in principle to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible.” Muttaqi affirmed that Afghanistan is willing to strengthen security cooperation and uphold regional stability with China and Pakistan.

The meeting, though, did not come out with a ratified agreement and plan on how to go forward with the trilateral cooperation. It did bring Pakistan and Afghanistan together, as ties soured after the repatriation act, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of abetting militant groups. The meeting also showcases China’s new role as a regional unifier, bringing countries together to forge economic ties. China yet again brokered cooperation between tense neighbours, a step towards normalization of ties after strained relations.

References:
“Chinese, Afghan, Pakistani FMs hold informal meeting in Beijing,” Global Times, 21 May 2025
“Trilateral cooperation: CPEC to be extended to Afghanistan,” Business Recorder, 22 May 2025
“Beijing breakthrough: Afghanistan and Pakistan to upgrade diplomatic relations,” Tehran Times, 21 May 2025
“China makes Taliban regime, Islamabad agree on ties upgrade,” Dawn, 22 May 2025

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