Trilateral Meeting in Kabul: Pakistan-China-Afghanistan Forge New Equations in Regional Diplomacy

Islamabad, Pakistan – On Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan’s Taliban government met in Kabul for a trilateral dialogue. The meeting began with handshakes and light smiles, but the main focus of discussion was regional cooperation and security.

This marks the second such meeting in the past 12 weeks. Following the first meeting in Beijing in May, the discussions have taken on a new dimension. After that meeting, steps were initiated to normalize the tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the possibility of extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan was also discussed. CPEC is a major component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.

However, analysts note that China’s diplomatic initiative concerning Pakistan and Afghanistan carries security and political risks. In particular, the uncertain situation in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and Pakistan’s internal counterterrorism challenges could affect China’s economic investments.

Meanwhile, a new equation is emerging in regional politics. Pakistan is simultaneously strengthening ties with the United States, while China is increasing bilateral engagement with India. India, in turn, is deepening its engagement with the Afghan Taliban. Consequently, the meetings in Beijing, Islamabad, and Kabul send an important message in South Asian geopolitics.

Analysts believe that while China is playing an active role in this initiative, bridging the long-standing trust deficit between Pakistan and Afghanistan will not be easy. Therefore, while the Kabul meeting is an important step toward regional stability, its practical implementation will take time.