Pakistan and Afghanistan take steps to restore ties in talks mediated by China
Amid ongoing tensions with archrival India—highlighted by a recent exchange of missiles and drones nearly two weeks ago—Pakistan has stepped up diplomatic engagement with two other neighbors, China and Afghanistan. These efforts could pave the way for the formal restoration of diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Kabul after nearly four years.
In an “informal” trilateral meeting held in Beijing on May 21, the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan convened under a forum first launched in 2017, and which last met in May 2023, News.Az reports citing Al Jazeera.
This time, a key outcome from the meeting, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was a renewed willingness by both Pakistan and Afghanistan to restore diplomatic relations after heightened tensions in recent years.
“Afghanistan and Pakistan expressed clear willingness to elevate diplomatic relations and agreed in principle to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible. China welcomed this and will continue to provideassistance for the improvement of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations,” Wang said.
A Pakistani diplomat with direct knowledge of the talks told Al Jazeera that the next round of the 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, speaking on condition of anonymity about the Beijing meeting.
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