The foreign ministers of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan met in Kabul for a trilateral meeting, following an earlier meeting in Beijing. The May meeting led to the resumption of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan after a period of high tension. Talks are planned on extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), into Afghanistan. China expresses unease over the security of its interests along CPEC and seeks regional stability to protect investments. Analysts say Beijing's influence over Islamabad and Kabul remains untested and that China may face significant risks if it pursues reconciliation between Pakistan and the Taliban.
That May meeting had led to the resumption of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan after a period of high tension between them. It also set the stage for talks on extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a part of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into Afghanistan. The BRI is a network of ports, railroads and highways aimed at connecting Asia, Africa and Europe.
But as China plans to expand its footprint in the region, its attempts to forge peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan reflect its unease over the security of its interests even along the existing CPEC, say analysts. And while Beijing is a vital partner to both Islamabad and Kabul, experts believe its influence over both remains untested, as does China's willingness to take on the risks that it might confront if it seeks to bring Pakistan and the Taliban, once thick allies but now embittered neighbours, back into a trusted embrace, they say.
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