China & Pakistan Agree To Extend Economic Corridor To Afghanistan

China, Pakistan and Taliban foreign ministers announced their resolve to jointly extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan. The three foreign ministers expressed their commitment to further the trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In a joint statement after the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue in Islamabad, on Monday, the three sides stressed on the need to not allow any individual, group or party, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) to use their territories to harm and threaten regional security and interests, or conduct terrorist actions and activities.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met in Islamabad May 6.

The joint statement of the three sides has not elaborated on how the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be extended to Afghanistan.

The 65-billion-dollar CPEC project includes the construction of a network of waterways, roads, and railways, which aims to create a safe corridor for the transport of energy resources from the Middle East to China through Pakistan.

The joint statement of the foreign ministers of the three countries stressed that the importance of existing projects including CASA-1000, TAPI, and Trans-Afghan Railways would enhance regional connectivity as well as ensure economic uplift and prosperity for the people of this region.

The joint statement called the Taliban as interim Afghan government and said that the Taliban has given repeated assurances to respect and protect women’s rights and interests.

The foreign ministers of Pakistan, China, and the Taliban asked the international community to "engage" with the Taliban administration to develop governance capacities in Afghanistan.

Over the past 18 months, even Pakistan, which has been accused of supporting the Taliban has not recognised the Taliban in Afghanistan.

International rights groups have reported that the Taliban has widely violated the rights of Afghan women and girls and removed them from social life.