Pakistan, China, Afghanistan to prevent use of soil for terrorism

Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar stated that a firm consensus has been reached between Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan to prevent any terrorist group, including the TTP and BLA, from using one nation’s territory to target another.

While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he described his recent visit to China as a major diplomatic success that yielded positive outcomes in strategic, economic, and foreign policy domains.

Dar noted that the discussions surrounding the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0) were thorough and optimistic.

He mentioned that Pakistan has successfully laid a foundation for deeper collaboration under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

He announced that China has shown willingness to fund the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan railway line, which he described as a game-changing development for regional trade and connectivity.

According to him, Pakistan has already submitted a draft framework for the railway project to both Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

He emphasized that the financial and logistical aspects of the project are being handled directly with China, which has responded encouragingly.

Dar further said that the railway project, along with developments like the Peshawar-Kabul Highway and the ML-1 rail upgrades, will significantly improve Pakistan’s access to Central Asian markets and unlock the trade potential of its ports.

He added that important agreements were also reached with China and Afghanistan regarding refugee policies and anti-terrorism cooperation during the visit.

Reiterating Pakistan’s position, he said the country remains determined to eliminate terrorism decisively, just as it has done in the past.

He also confirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the “One-China” policy, explicitly including Tibet in this stance.

Lastly, the Deputy Prime Minister shared that senior Chinese officials, including the Minister for International Development and a high-ranking Communist Party figure, commended Pakistan’s growing international engagement during meetings with his delegation.