Though terrorism has taken a central place in the security matrix of the South Asian region, bilateral engagement and wider regional connectivity to tackle common challenges among neighbouring states remains a cogent option. Pakistan was ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 report compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). This report pointed out an alarming rise in the number of deaths in terrorist attacks by 45 per cent. The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was marked as the fastest-growing terrorist group, responsible for a 90 per cent increase in deaths. Surging terrorism in Pakistan was specifically linked to the arrival of Tahreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA) in the power corridors of Kabul. Terrorism has been a thorn in bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan for decades.
Besides focusing on counter-terrorism measures, there has always been a need to normalise Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral ties through cooperation in economic, regional connectivity, cultural, and development domains. The trilateral meeting between Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan played an effective role in creating a trust-based environment for subsequent constructive engagements on matters of mutual interest. An informal meeting of the three foreign ministers was held on 21 May in Beijing. This meeting reinforced the effectiveness of China’s mediatory role in reducing bitterness in Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations amid surging cross-border terrorism.
A report by Al Jazeera titled “Pakistan, Afghanistan move towards restoring ties in talks with China”, published on 23 May 2025, specifically pointed out growing Indian engagement with Kabul as an important factor behind Chinese mediation. The statement of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the trilateral meeting was full of hope and optimism: “Afghanistan and Pakistan expressed clear willingness to elevate diplomatic relations and agreed in principle to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible. China welcomes this and will continue to provide assistance for the improvement of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations,” Wang said.
The Chinese foreign minister further stated that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion mega project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), will now be extended into Afghanistan. From Pakistan’s strategic perspective, this trilateral meeting under the arrangement of China reaffirmed the importance of Beijing-Islamabad relations.
Side by side, New Delhi made significant attempts to bring Kabul into her fold amid the post-Pahalgam military clash with Pakistan. The visit of senior Taliban figurehead Ibrahim Sadr to India in early May and the subsequent appreciation of Amir Khan Muttaqi’s condemnation of the Pahalgam attack by S. Jaishankar was portrayed as an endorsement of the Indian stance. Factually, none of the Afghan Taliban officials blamed Pakistan for involvement in the Pahalgam attack.
Terrorist attacks on Chinese nationals employed in Pakistan on CPEC-related projects by banned terrorist groups based in Afghanistan have created a common sense of security between Beijing and Islamabad. The importance of trilateral cooperation to eradicate terrorism, external threats, and poverty has been emphasised on the website of the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations.
Positive outcomes have already begun to emerge, as evident from the signing of a trade agreement between Pakistan and the Interim Afghanistan Government led by the TTA. The agreement primarily aims at the reduction of tariffs to boost bilateral trade. According to an Amu TV report, the trade agreement will come into effect from 1 August 2025 for a duration of one year, with a renewal option subject to mutual consensus. Tariffs will be reduced from more than 60 per cent to 27 per cent on eight agricultural products. The agreement also offers the provision to include more items in the preferential tariff regime.
In addition to this positive agreement, another encouraging development was reported by the media in the last week of July. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have mutually agreed in principle to open the Angoor Adda crossing point. Pakistan has informed Afghanistan that operationalisation of the border terminal will be completed by the end of August.
Economic cooperation and regional connectivity seem to be an effective remedy to dispel security-specific tensions. China’s appreciable mediatory role has significantly brought Pakistan and Afghanistan closer, as evident from these trade-specific positive measures. Such initiatives are likely to pave the way for the much-needed joint counter-terrorism measures to restore regional peace.
