Why India keenly watched the ‘routine but special’ meeting of Chinese, Pakistani and Afghan foreign ministers in Kabul

After his successful visit to India, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi headed to Afghanistan’s Kabul on Wednesday, where he attended the 6th Pakistan-Afghanistan-China trilateral dialogue, held in Kabul for the first time since the return of the Taliban in 2021.

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi hosted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani  counterpart, Ishaq Dar, on Wednesday. The public agenda of the event centered on the expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Kabul and cooperation in financial and terror-related issues. India is keeping a close eye on the developments, considering New Delhi’s emerging relations with Kabul these days.

For China, it is important to keep peace in the region to bolster its economic interests in the Pakistan-Afghan border regions. The Afghan Taliban backed Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had been affecting the interests of the Chinese in the region, targeting Chinese citizens and projects. Since 2021, 14 terrorist attacks have taken place in the country targeting Chinese citizens.

Chinese analyst Zhu Yongbiao, the executive director of the Research Center for the Belt and Road at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times that the meeting “is both a continuation and a new starting point." "This approach has further shaped China's image as a positive and reliable diplomatic actor," Zhu said.

Staying close to the Taliban, which was recently recognised by Russia, marks a significant step for China diplomatically. For the Taliban, this would mean financial support and  international legitimacy. Showing that key regional players are willing to engage with it despite the lack of formal recognition will benefit the Taliban.

Pakistan also wants the alliance to work, so as to advance the partnership, enhance cooperation in trade, Belt and Road cooperation, connectivity, and counterterrorism.

Beyond all these, the India factor plays a large role for both China and Pakistan. Islamabad wants close relations with the Taliban to undercut India’s increasing influence in Afghanistan. New Delhi has been cultivating a close rapport with Kabul since 2021, and this has triggered anxiety in Islamabad, considering how its relations with Kabul worsened since the Taliban comeback. Pakistan had recently upgraded its ties with Afghanistan by elevating diplomatic relations in its bid to stall Kabul getting close to New Delhi, though Islamabad had attributed it to “Beijing’s request”. 

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