Wang in Pakistan for strategic dialogue as China focuses CPEC, terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday landed in Pakistan for strategic dialogue with his counterpart Ishaq Dar, as China’s top diplomat completes his foreign tour with earlier stops at New Delhi and Kabul.

Wang will spend three days in Islamabad after attending the Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue in Kabul on Wednesday, which also involved Pakistan and Afghanistan.

TERRORISM

Earlier, the Foreign Office said Pakistan, China and Afghanistan focused on “political, economic and security cooperation”.

The Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue was held on 20 August 2025 in Kabul between Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan @MIshaqDar50, Foreign Minister of China @MFA_China, and Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan @mfa_afghanistan, focusing on political,… pic.twitter.com/i6n8I2oYgr

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 20, 2025

Meanwhile, the terrorism issue seemingly topped the agenda.

“The three sides committed to strengthen joint efforts against terrorism,” it said.

In this connection, Wang urged Afghanistan to take Chinese concerns over “terrorist forces” seriously, Reuters reported. 

In a meeting with Afghan Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Wang urged Kabul to take seriously Chinese concerns over “terrorist forces” and step up efforts to combat them, according to a readout of the meeting from the Chinese foreign ministry.

At the same time, he said “China will continue to uphold justice, oppose unilateral bullying, and engage in cooperation in various fields with Afghanistan”.

REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

At the same time, the Foreign Office also talked about the issues related to regional connectivity.

“They also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration in trade, transit, regional development, health, education, culture, and combating drug trafficking, as well as, extension of CPEC to Afghanistan.”

ACT AGAINST BLA AND TTP

Wednesday also saw Dar, who is also Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, again raising concerns over a recent surge in terrorist attacks by groups “operating from Afghan soil” during a meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul.

Dar urged Afghan authorities to take “concrete and verifiable measures” against the banned outfits — Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its affiliate Majeed Brigade.

The urgency to tackle terrorism and the repeated demand to press the Afghan Taliban to act against terrorists operating from its soil came after Pakistan achieved a massive diplomatic victory in Washington, which has far-reaching regional and global consequences.

And diplomatic success is the US decision to designate the BLA and Majeed Brigade as foreign terrorist organisations.

Read more: Designation of BLA, Majeed Brigade as foreign terrorist organisations hailed

MINERALS

China told Afghanistan on Wednesday that Beijing was keen on exploring and mining minerals in Afghanistan and wanted Kabul to formally join its Belt and Road Initiative, the Afghan Taliban foreign ministry said.

Beijing will continue to support the Afghan government to achieve long-term peace and stability, Wang told Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, according to a readout of the meeting released by China’s foreign ministry.

China was willing to deepen mutual political trust with Afghanistan and step up cooperation in areas including trade and agriculture, Wang said.

He called on Afghanistan to combat militant forces, adding that tighter security ties would provide a guarantee for bilateral economic cooperation.

Wang also mentioned that “China intends to initiate practical mining activities this year”, the Afghan statement said.