China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have agreed to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan to boost regional connectivity and development. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi held an informal trilateral meeting in Beijing.
India has consistently opposed the move since it involves construction through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This marks the first trilateral meeting between China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan since Operation Sindoor, India’s offensive against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, post Pahalgam terror attack.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that countries participating in the CPEC projects would be infringing upon India’s territory in Jammu and Kashmir. The CPEC, which is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, is aimed at renewing trade routes in the coastal countries of Southeast Asia and developing a trade corridor through Europe and the Middle East.
Ishaq Dar said in a post on X that “Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan stand together for regional peace, stability, and development”. Pakistan’s foreign office stated that, “They agreed to deepen Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation and extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan.”
Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan stand together for regional peace, stability, and development. pic.twitter.com/MX9fLJCG6L
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) May 21, 2025
New Delhi has always raised concerns over the terror infrastructure being funded by Pakistan, especially in PoK, which is considered to be a major source of infiltration by terrorists, allegedly leading to the Pahalgam terror attack. This led India to launch Operation Sindoor targeting nine terror sites in the neighbouring nation and PoK.
India, in the past, has strongly condemned China and Pakistan for encouraging the participation of third countries in CPEC projects. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s inclusion comes at a time when the Taliban government condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and rejected the Pakistan army’s claims that India had launched missile strikes on Afghan territory.
