Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan on Wednesday expressed a commitment to strengthening joint efforts against terrorism during the sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue in Kabul.
Attended by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, his Afghan counterpart Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and China’s Wang Yi, the trilateral dialogue focused on political, economic, and security cooperation between the countries.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the three sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration in trade, transit, regional development, health, education, culture, and combating drug trafficking, as well as extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan.
Ahead of the summit, Dar met Muttaqi and urged the Taliban government to take concrete and verifiable measures against terrorist entities such as the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade. The Foreign Office said the minister had highlighted the recent surge in terrorist attacks across Pakistan, noting groups operating from Afghan soil perpetrated them.
“Both ministers expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations between their countries,” it said. “They welcomed the recent elevation of diplomatic representation between the two countries from chargé d’affaires to ambassadorial level, as agreed during the trilateral meeting in Beijing on May 21, 2025,” the spokesperson added.
In a separate meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund alluded to foreign interference. “We also call upon other countries to pursue the path of friendship, sound relations, and positive engagement rather than interference,” he said.
Wang, per a statement, communicated Beijing’s concerns over ETIM militants based in Afghanistan and posing a threat to China’s Xinjiang region. “We also hope that Afghanistan will take into account some of our concerns, particularly concerning security,” he said. “Effective security cooperation between the two countries will establish a foundation for Afghanistan’s development. We hope that you, as China’s friend, will attach special importance to this matter and further enhance your cooperation,” he added.
“Please assure the Chinese leadership that we have demonstrated in practice that no insecurity or other problem will emanate from Afghan soil toward any party,” Akhund told Wang.
During Dar’s meeting with Muttaqi, the foreign minister acknowledged the encouraging progress in political and commercial ties, while expressing that progress in the security domain, especially in counter-terrorism, continues to lag behind.
The Afghan acting foreign minister reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment to ensuring its territory is not used by any terrorist group against Pakistan or other nations.