Beijing, May 21, 2025: Pakistan and the Taliban-led interim government of Afghanistan have agreed to deepen diplomatic engagements, enhance security cooperation, and expand trade relations, following high-level talks held in Beijing on Wednesday.
The consensus was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan’s interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The talks, held on the sidelines of Dar’s official visit to China, focused on strengthening bilateral ties for mutual benefit and promoting peace and stability in the region. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to working closely on matters of shared interest, particularly regional security and economic integration.
This marks Dar’s first major diplomatic engagement since Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos earlier this month in response to Indian military aggression.
Prior to his meeting with Muttaqi, Foreign Minister Dar also held wide-ranging discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, where both sides reviewed the current state of Pakistan-China strategic relations and the evolving geopolitical situation in South Asia.
Dar expressed gratitude to China for its unwavering support of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and reiterated Pakistan’s firm support for China’s core interests, including on issues such as Taiwan and the One-China policy.
Both countries expressed satisfaction over progress made in CPEC Phase-II, and discussed avenues to expand the project’s connectivity into Afghanistan. The proposed extension aims to bring Afghanistan into the regional economic fold, boosting trade and infrastructure development.
Additionally, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, industry, and investment, while ensuring that diplomatic coordination and regional peace efforts remain aligned.
The series of meetings underscore Pakistan’s renewed diplomatic outreach in the region and its strategic alignment with both China and neighboring Afghanistan amid shifting regional dynamics.
