In a significant development, Pakistan and Afghanistan have expressed willingness to restore diplomatic relations after heightened tensions in recent years. The move comes after a trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in Beijing on May 21, 2025. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that both countries agreed in principle to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible, and China welcomed this development and will continue to provide assistance for the improvement of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.
Wang added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will now be extended into Afghanistan. A Pakistani diplomat with direct knowledge of the talks told Al Jazeera that the next round of trilateral meetings will be held “very soon”, within a few weeks, to build on the momentum from the Beijing conclave. “I am reasonably optimistic about the outcomes. It was a great confidence- and trust-building exercise between the three countries,” said the official.
The meeting comes amid tensions between Pakistan and India, with both countries claiming “victory” after a dramatic exchange of missiles and drones nearly two weeks ago. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, executive director of the Islamabad-based Pakistan-China Institute, called the Beijing meeting “very significant”, given Afghanistan’s geopolitical sensitivity. “For Pakistan and China, the conflict with India has reinforced strategic clarity on the need to work closely with Afghanistan,” Sayed said.
However, Kabul-based political analyst Tameem Bahiss noted that the timing of this trilateral meeting reflects an urgent need for coordination among these three countries as new geopolitical dynamics take shape in South and Central Asia. “Afghanistan has the sovereign right to engage with any country, including India. But it must tread carefully. Clear messaging is essential to ensure that its growing ties with New Delhi aren’t misinterpreted as threats by other regional players,” Bahiss said.
Both Pakistan and China see security as their “core interest” in Afghanistan, with concerns over militant groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). Sayed stressed that neutralizing these terrorist outfits is a prerequisite for cooperation to move forward. The trilateral talks aim to address these security concerns while advancing trade and transit initiatives that benefit all three countries.