Kabul, August 20, 2025: Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to intensify joint efforts against terrorism and deepen regional cooperation during the sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue held in Kabul.
The meeting brought together Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi.
According to Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, the talks focused on political, economic, and security cooperation. The three sides pledged closer collaboration in trade, transit, regional development, health, education, culture, counter-narcotics, and the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan.
On the sidelines, DPM Dar held a bilateral meeting with Muttaqi, urging the Taliban authorities to take “concrete and verifiable” measures against terrorist outfits operating from Afghan soil, including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and its militant wing, the Majeed Brigade. His call followed the recent designation of the BLA and the Majeed Brigade as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) by the United States.
Dar highlighted a recent surge in terrorist attacks in Pakistan, many of them traced back to sanctuaries across the border. Pakistan has seen a persistent wave of violence since 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), July alone witnessed 82 militant attacks that left 101 people dead — including 47 civilians and 36 security personnel — and 150 others injured.
The FO spokesperson said both ministers welcomed the elevation of diplomatic representation between Islamabad and Kabul to the ambassadorial level, as agreed in the May 21 trilateral meeting in Beijing. They also noted progress made since Dar’s earlier visits to Kabul in April and July this year.
Dar acknowledged improvements in political and commercial ties but stressed that progress in the security domain, particularly counter-terrorism, remained inadequate. For his part, Muttaqi reiterated Afghanistan’s commitment to ensuring its soil would not be used against Pakistan or any other country.
Concluding the talks, Dar thanked Afghan authorities for their hospitality and congratulated them on successfully hosting the sixth trilateral dialogue.
