IRIA News

The foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan agreed to strengthen trilateral cooperation on security and counterterrorism and boost trade and connectivity in a dialogue in Islamabad.

They discussed trilateral issues and cooperate during the fifth trilateral dialogue of foreign ministers held on May 6, 2023. This was the first such dialogue held by three countries since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said that China seeks to promote good neighborliness and mutual trust among the three countries based on mutual respect, transparency, and friendship. He expressed the hope that the meeting would facilitate the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to landlocked Afghanistan and further cooperation in trade, investment, and connectivity, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges among the three parties to forger closer and more friendly relationships as neighbors and partners.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for development, connectivity, and prosperity in the region. “We will continue to work together with all stakeholders for a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and united Afghanistan,” he said.

Beijing and Islamabad stressed the need for concrete efforts by the international community to provide assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people including through unfreezing of Afghanistan’s overseas financial assets. Qin Gang said that China and Pakistan would actively support the reconstruction process in Afghanistan but also pressed the Taliban to deliver on regional and international commitments including “inclusive government and moderate policies and friendly relations with its neighbors”.

Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is subject to a travel ban by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and was given an exemption to visit Islamabad.

Counter-terrorism and security

During the discussion of security, Chinese State Councilor Qin Gang said that “China is ready to strengthen counter-terrorism and security cooperation with Afghanistan and Pakistan”. He also said that his country is also prepared to ”join efforts to firmly combat terrorist forces including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), so as to defend regional security and stability”.

Bilawal Bhutto said that terrorism is a crucial issue for Pakistan and its people, and it poses a significant threat to regional peace and stability. Therefore, Pakistan is determined to collaborate with China and Afghanistan to address this issue through trilateral cooperation.

Had a candid and indepth exchange on key cooperation areas and international issues of mutual interest. Look forward to working with @ambqingang to further enhance All-Weather 🇵🇰🇨🇳 strategic partnership! pic.twitter.com/3R6oEv36V2

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 6, 2023

Pakistan said it looks forward to advancing the common agenda of the three countries for regional cooperation under the trilateral framework, as the diplomats held bilateral and tripartite meetings during the day.

China and Pakistan discuss development and trade

Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang also held a detailed bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart and they chaired the fourth round of China-Pakistan foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue in Islamabad. These are the highlights of their discussion:

• China and Pakistan have strong and enduring all-weather strategic cooperation, with China valuing Pakistan’s support on issues of core interest and committing to supporting Pakistan’s development and stability.
• The two countries will work together to promote the high-quality development of the multi-billion-dollar CPEC project and expand cooperation in new areas including technology, energy, and agriculture.
• China is ready to deepen security and counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan and enhance collaboration in regional counter-terrorism affairs.
• Pakistan would ensure the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan. Islamabad security officials would also crack down hard on terrorist organizations including Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
• Pakistan regards China as an eternal friend and remains committed to the one-China policy, and firmly supports China on all issues of its core interests. 
• The two sides work together to strengthen cooperation in various fields to jointly combat terrorism and address global challenges including climate change.

Meeting of Chinese and Afghan foreign ministers

Qin Gang and Mutaqqi also held a bilateral meeting in Islamabad on the sidelines of the tripartite dialogue. During the talks, Qin Gang said that ”China will always stand firmly with the Afghan people and support Afghanistan in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions.” He added that China will continue to support Afghanistan’s development and respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

However, Qin urged that Afghanistan should fulfill its commitment to fighting terrorism, including the militant group ETIM and ”ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel and institutions in Afghanistan.” Afghan foreign minister pledged that they ”will never allow any force to use the Afghan territory for anti-China activities.”

Mutaqqi said that Afghanistan hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, including trade and infrastructure development, within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to promote regional stability and prosperity.