FMs of China, Pakistan & Afghanistan hold talks in Islamabad

China, Afghanistan and Pakistan have pledged to further strengthen trilateral cooperation on security and counterterrorism at a meeting of the three nations’ foreign ministers in Islamabad.

China, Afghanistan and Pakistan have pledged to further strengthen trilateral cooperation on security and counterterrorism at a meeting of the three nations’ foreign ministers in Islamabad.

The ministers agreed to uphold good relations, deepen political mutual trust, respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and properly address differences and disputes through equal consultation.

Since the withdrawal of United States forces in August 2021, Afghanistan has suffered an economic and humanitarian crisis as the Taliban took over and the nation was plunged into international isolation.

The Taliban government has since hoped to attract Chinese investment in its reserves of minerals such as copper and lithium.

The acting foreign minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is subject to a travel ban by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) but was given an exemption to visit Islamabad, met his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang.

He is due to have a bilateral meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari later.