On August 20, 2025, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, arrived in Kabul to participate in the 6th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting alongside Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The summit, hosted by Afghanistan, aims to bolster political, economic, and security cooperation among the three nations, with a focus on trade, regional connectivity, and counter-terrorism.

Accompanied by Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, and senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, Dar was warmly received by Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Naeem and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani.

The day-long meeting, held at Kabul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, centers on deepening ties through initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) extension into Afghanistan, enhancing trade routes, and combating cross-border terrorism. Dar also held a bilateral meeting with Muttaqi to address Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, focusing on security concerns and border management.

The summit builds on the May 21, 2025, trilateral meeting in Beijing, where the three nations agreed to strengthen the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, promote Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, and support Afghanistan’s reconstruction.

The Kabul meeting, the first hosted by Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return in 2021, marks a diplomatic milestone for the Taliban regime, which faces international isolation despite Russia’s formal recognition in July 2025. Discussions also tackled the presence of terrorist groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a key concern for Islamabad.

The trilateral platform, launched in 2017, has gained significance amid shifting regional dynamics. Pakistan seeks to address security threats emanating from Afghan soil, while China pushes for CPEC’s expansion to enhance connectivity and economic stability. Afghanistan, grappling with sanctions and asset freezes, views the summit as a chance to strengthen ties with key neighbors.