The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan, General Syed Asim Munir, met with Afghanistan’s Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to discuss the need for increased cooperation between the two countries to address common challenges of terrorism and extremism. General Asim reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan and emphasized the importance of full support and commitment from the Afghan interim government in matters of mutual interest. Both sides agreed on the significance of maintaining regular contact to strengthen bilateral ties and address common concerns.
In a separate meeting, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, called on the COAS and reaffirmed China’s support for Pakistan’s efforts in maintaining regional peace and stability. The COAS pledged full support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and appreciated China’s unwavering support for Pakistan on regional and international issues. Both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, including regional security and defence cooperation, and agreed to enhance existing cooperation in defence and security domains to counter common security challenges effectively.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also hosted a luncheon in honour of the visiting Afghan delegation and held candid and in-depth exchanges on key issues of mutual concern, including peace and security, as well as trade and connectivity. The foreign ministers emphasized the need for enhanced coordination to counter terrorism and deepen bilateral cooperation. Regarding bilateral and transit trade, the two sides stressed the importance of removing impediments to trade to advance the goal of enhanced regional economic integration and connectivity.
The 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue, attended by the Chinese Foreign Minister, was also held, where the three sides agreed to advance political engagement, and counterterrorism cooperation, and enhance trade, investments, and connectivity under the trilateral framework.
The COAS of Pakistan stressed the need for enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan to address common challenges of terrorism and extremism while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan. China also pledged its support for Pakistan’s efforts in maintaining regional peace and stability, and both sides agreed to enhance existing cooperation in defence and security domains to counter common security challenges effectively. The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan held candid and in-depth exchanges on key issues of mutual concern, including peace and security, as well as trade and connectivity, and emphasized the need for enhanced coordination to counter-terrorism and deepen bilateral cooperation. The 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue also advanced political engagement, counterterrorism cooperation, and enhanced trade, investments, and connectivity under the trilateral framework.