ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, reaffirming their commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and economic cooperation.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign Minister and Member of the CPC Political Bureau Wang Yi, and Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi held an informal trilateral meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.
“The three foreign ministers reaffirmed trilateral cooperation as a vital platform to promote regional security and economic connectivity,” the Foreign Office said.
The ministers discussed enhancing diplomatic engagement and communications, while emphasising “practical steps to boost trade, infrastructure, and development as key drivers of shared prosperity.”
A key outcome of the meeting was the agreement to deepen Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation and formally extend CPEC to Afghanistan — a move expected to enhance regional integration and economic opportunities.
The foreign ministers also underscored their shared commitment “to countering terrorism and fostering stability and development in the region.”
According to the Foreign Office, it was agreed that the 6th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Kabul at an early, mutually convenient date.
Separately, DPM Dar met Afghan FM Muttaqi on the sidelines of his Beijing visit. The two leaders recalled DPM Dar’s recent visit to Kabul and welcomed the positive momentum in bilateral relations, particularly in enhanced diplomatic engagement, trade, and transit facilitation.
They agreed to continue working together to advance mutual interests in key areas including trade, transit, connectivity, and security, the MoFA said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that peace talks between Pakistan and India could take place in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the US acting as a key mediator.
Addressing journalists in Islamabad, he said that an agreement was reached during communications between the DGMOs of both countries that their respective forces would return to pre-war positions. The premier confirmed that Pakistan’s delegation at the talks would include the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
PM Shehbaz Sharif, however, clarified that India had so far not agreed to engage in talks with a third country. The prime minister said Pakistan would raise four key points in any future dialogue with India — Kashmir, water, trade, and terrorism. He suggested that holding talks in a third country could be a good decision.
PM Shehbaz said the decision to promote Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir to the rank of field marshal was his own decision. A special guard of honour ceremony was also held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Wednesday to honour Field Marshal Asim Munir, following his elevation.
The prime minister said he does consult his elder brother and PMLN President Nawaz Sharif on such crucial decisions.
Meanwhile, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said a military conflict between Pakistan and India, which are nuclear powers, is “sheer stupidity” and is an absurd idea. The military spokesperson expressed his views while talking to a British media outlet following the recent standoff with India. He added that a nuclear conflict could lead to mutual destruction for both countries. “Pakistan desires peace, but if a war is imposed, then we are ever ready,” said the military spokesperson. He slammed India’s “arrogance” by promoting a narrative of war between the two countries. He added that a dispute does exist, which could be ignited at any moment. To a question regarding the possibility of a nuclear conflict between the South Asian nations, the DG ISPR replied that India is “playing with fire” based on a false narrative. On the ceasefire, the military spokesperson said that Pakistan prioritises peace and the country is celebrating peace, not victory. To another question about backchannel contacts between the two countries, DG ISPR said that the foreign ministry could answer it, as the military does not deal with politics and diplomacy.
Separately, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said India’s use of water as a weapon is deeply troubling and must be brought to the world’s attention.
“India is standing on a weak wicket by attempting to weaponize water,” he said while talking to the media after the briefing by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the diplomatic committee, headed by him. He would visit the capitals of different major countries of the world in near future.
Bilawal warned that if the Kashmir issue remains unresolved and water becomes another flashpoint, future generations in both Pakistan and India may find themselves locked in a far more dangerous and tragic conflict. “It is unfortunate that since 1947, the two countries have been at odds over Kashmir. We must not let water become the next cause of war,” he said.
He elaborated on Pakistan’s broader diplomatic agenda, stating, “We will take our message to governments, parliamentarians, media, civil society and most importantly, to the people of the world. When two nuclear powers are at war, the consequences are never limited to them alone rather the whole world is affected.”
Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs declared an official of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi as “persona non grata”, ordering the diplomat to leave the country within 24 hours. According to the Indian government, the official was found engaged in “activities deemed incompatible with diplomatic duties”.
At the same time, the Government of Pakistan declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, as persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his privileged status. The official has been directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours,a press statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The statement further said the Indian Chargé d’Affaires was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey this decision.
