By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, a move officials say could reshape regional connectivity despite ongoing security and diplomatic challenges.
The decision was shared with the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs during a briefing by officials from the foreign office. They told the committee that Pakistan had formally decided to expand the flagship infrastructure and development initiative into Afghanistan, with China playing a facilitative role between Islamabad and Kabul.
Officials acknowledged that relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were currently strained, describing the situation as temporary. They said China was actively working to help improve ties between the two neighbors.
The briefing also highlighted broader regional difficulties, with officials blaming India for the failure of regional cooperation frameworks. They said the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) had remained largely inactive because of India’s stance, forcing Pakistan to strengthen bilateral and alternative regional engagements.
Security concerns featured prominently in the discussion. Officials said both Pakistan and China shared serious reservations about the situation in Afghanistan, particularly regarding terrorism. China, they added, was concerned about the safety of its citizens in Afghanistan, while Pakistan also faced security risks linked to cross-border militancy.
According to the officials, Islamabad and Beijing hold a unified position on Afghanistan. Addressing the committee, the foreign secretary said terrorism was a global threat requiring collective responses, including joint military exercises aimed at countering militant networks and preventing cross-border movement by terrorist groups.
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