In a significant move aimed at enhancing regional connectivity, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have pledged to deepen cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and security following high-level informal talks in Beijing on May 21. The trilateral meeting, which brought together Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, marks a fresh chapter in the evolving geopolitical landscape of South and Central Asia.

In a joint statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry and shared on the social media platform X, the three countries emphasized the importance of trilateral engagement to promote regional security and economic integration. “The three Foreign Ministers reaffirmed trilateral cooperation as a vital platform to promote regional security and economic connectivity,” the statement read, underscoring a shared commitment to practical steps in diplomacy, trade, and development.

At the heart of this emerging alliance lies the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s ambitious global infrastructure strategy. The new trilateral alignment aims to expand BRI’s reach into Afghanistan by integrating it into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion flagship component of the BRI.

This marks a notable shift, as Beijing had previously treaded cautiously in dealing with Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Now, with Islamabad’s backing and Kabul’s enthusiastic outreach, the stage is set for major infrastructure investments that could connect landlocked Afghanistan with China’s global trade network via Pakistani ports.

The Taliban government’s recent overture, expressed through a statement from Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry, welcomed “mutual respect........

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