Wang Yi flies to Afghanistan after 3 years amid Taliban-Pakistan tension, eyes 3-way CPEC talks

In a first visit to Afghanistan in more than three years, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi landed in Kabul on Wednesday as Beijing seeks to expand its regional footprint through economic and security cooperation.

Wang’s arrival comes ahead of a trilateral meeting with his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts, where discussions are expected to centre on counterterrorism measures and the possible extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan.

The corridor, part of Beijing’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative, has been a cornerstone of China’s partnership with Pakistan and is now being positioned as a tool to anchor Kabul more closely into regional trade routes.

The meeting takes place amid lingering strains in Taliban-Pakistan relations over cross-border militancy, even as both sides have engaged in closer trade and security dialogues in recent months. Wang’s visit signals Beijing’s intention to play a balancing role while promoting its long-term strategic interests in the region.

The diplomatic outreach also comes just weeks after Russia became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban administration. Although China and Pakistan have yet to grant recognition, Beijing has stepped up engagement with Kabul, frequently hosting Taliban officials and nudging regional partners towards cooperation.

In May, Wang met Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Beijing, where he extended a formal invitation for Afghanistan to join CPEC. Pakistan soon appointed its first ambassador to Kabul since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Beijing has consistently stressed the need for joint security initiatives among the three neighbours. Wang recently warned against “external interference” and urged tighter law enforcement cooperation.

His current trip, paired with earlier visits by China’s special envoy Yue Xiaoyong to both Kabul and Islamabad highlighted Beijing’s drive to shape Afghanistan’s regional integration at a time of shifting alliances.

With inputs from agencies