Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan to bolster cooperation in combating 'terrorism' as per Pakistan's statement during trilateral discussions.

Trilateral Dialogue Strengthens Ties Between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China

On August 20, 2025, the Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue took place in Kabul, with representatives from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China in attendance. The dialogue aimed to promote political trust, counterterrorism coordination, and economic integration between the three countries.

Pakistan's foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi Dar, held a bilateral meeting with his Afghan counterpart, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, during the dialogue. Dar urged Afghan authorities to take concrete and verifiable measures against entities such as the Pakistani Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)/Majeed Brigade, as these militant groups are alleged to operate from sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

The three countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration in trade, transit, regional development, health, education, culture, and combating drug trafficking. Afghanistan's acting foreign minister reaffirmed Afghanistan's commitment to preventing its territory from being used by terrorist groups against Pakistan or other nations.

Dar acknowledged the encouraging progress in political and commercial ties but expressed concern about the lag in progress in the security domain, especially in counterterrorism. Asif Durrani, a former Pakistani diplomat, believes the outcome of the meeting will become evident in the coming weeks, depending on whether cross-border terrorism incidents occur or not.

Naghmana Hashmi, Pakistan's former ambassador to China, considers the commitment of the three neighboring countries to extend CPEC to Afghanistan as an encouraging sign. CPEC is a multi-billion-dollar project that aims to connect China and Pakistan through a network of roads, railways, and energy pipelines. According to Hashmi, extending CPEC to Afghanistan is a natural extension, as peace in Afghanistan and smooth transit routes are essential for CPEC to fully deliver for Pakistan.

The trilateral talks took place while Pakistan is pressing ahead with a deportation drive against "illegal immigrants," mostly Afghans, which it launched in 2023 due to security concerns and illegal migration. Durrani also emphasizes the importance of continued dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as seen in the case of Pakistan and India, where dialogue stopped and unresolved issues created a visible regional impact.

Foreign affairs experts view the trilateral dialogue in Kabul as a positive development that could help address shared concerns over terrorism between Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan. Durrani remains cautiously optimistic about the ongoing process, as some improvement has taken place. The search results do not provide information about decisions regarding the expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan to bolster cooperation in combating 'terrorism' as per Pakistan's statement during trilateral discussions.