China, Pak agree to expand CPEC to Afghanistan

In a development viewed as unfavourable for India, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is set to be extended to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan following a trilateral agreement between Beijing, Islamabad and Kabul on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar announced the decision on X, confirming his participation in the trilateral meeting alongside Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

“In the meeting, it was agreed to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan,” Dar said. He also noted that the sixth trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting will be held in Kabul at an early, mutually convenient date.

For India, however, the implications are far from positive. India has consistently opposed CPEC — a flagship venture under China’s BRI — since a key stretch of it runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). New Delhi has also voiced concerns about engagement with the Taliban regime, which has now signalled its approval of the project.

The extension of CPEC to Afghanistan strengthens China’s strategic footprint in the region — at the heart of India’s concerns. With this move, China gains additional strategic depth on India’s western front. Beijing has already established a presence at key ports surrounding India, including Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Gwadar (Pakistan) and Chittagong (Bangladesh), reinforcing what is often described as the “String of Pearls” strategy aimed at encircling India.

Historically, India has maintained a significant presence in Afghanistan through major infrastructure and development projects such as the Zaranj-Delaram highway, the Afghan Parliament building and several hospitals. With China and Pakistan now increasing their influence in the country, India’s role in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan could diminish.

China’s growing presence also gives it greater access to Afghanistan’s rich natural resources, including copper and lithium — materials critical to the global clean energy transition.

So far, there has been no official response from China, Afghanistan, or India regarding the latest development.

Separately, Wang Yi held a bilateral meeting with Dar, where both sides agreed to “create an upgraded version” of CPEC and expand cooperation in sectors such as industry, energy, mining, counter-terrorism and security, according to a readout from China’s Foreign Ministry.

Dar also briefed Wang on the current status of India-Pakistan relations, including a recent understanding to halt military operations. He thanked China for its “significant contributions to promoting the ceasefire for peace”, the readout said. Dar added that Pakistan is willing to maintain dialogue with India to ease tensions.

Wang reiterated China’s support for both Pakistan and India in “properly handling their differences through dialogue, achieving a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, and seeking fundamental solutions”.

World