At Kabul’s Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue on August 20, Pakistan and China said CPEC would extend into Afghanistan.
Pairing trade and transit plans with closer cooperation on counter terrorism and drug trafficking.
CPEC extended to Afghanistan
A joint statement after the meeting attended by Ishaq Dar, Wang Yi, and Amir Khan Muttaqi framed the step as a boost for regional connectivity and development.
The three sides also reaffirmed cooperation in health, education, culture, and efforts against drug trafficking.
FM Pakistan pressed Kabul for “concrete and verifiable” action against groups behind recent attacks in Pakistan.
Particularly naming the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Balochistan Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade.
The Foreign Office said the concern was conveyed directly to Muttaqi.
Kabul reiterated that Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan or any other country, according to reports from the meeting.
China, for its part, urged deeper trilateral exchanges and stronger security coordination alongside economic ties.
Pakistan eyes central Asian markets via CPEC extension
For Pakistan, extending the corridor offers clearer access to Central Asian markets and steadier Afghan transit.
Opportunities that hinge on practical security guarantees and reliable implementation.
Officials provided no project list or timelines, but said economic cooperation and anti-terror collaboration would advance in parallel.
Wednesday’s dialogue also built on steps taken in May to restore ambassador-level ties between Islamabad and Kabul, part of wider engagement supported by Beijing.
The parties said they would keep channels open to translate commitments into workable trade and transit arrangements.
The Kabul talks paired an economic opening with a security ask.
If verifiable counter-terror cooperation materialises, the corridor’s extension could reduce frictions at the border and unlock jobs and investment along key routes.
The next updates will likely come through follow-up consultations among the three foreign ministries.
Previously on the topic: DPM Dar lands in Kabul for Pakistan, China, Afghanistan FMs’ meeting
