Geopolitical tensions simmer in South Asia as China and Pakistan’s foreign ministers converge in Beijing, plotting deeper engagement with Afghanistan and Bangladesh to rein in India’s clout. The three-day dialogue ending January 5 spotlights trilateral mechanisms and economic corridors as tools of influence.
Joint pledges from Wang Yi and Ishaq Dar affirm the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan forum and China-Bangladesh-Pakistan entity for anti-terror and rebuild efforts. Beijing frames its Afghan push as collaborative, demanding robust measures against terror networks and prohibiting soil use for foreign plots—positions Kabul contests.
CPEC’s upgraded 2.0 iteration, embedded in BRI, invites vetted outsiders while eyeing Afghan links, positioning Chinese funds against India’s regional bids. Debt-laden Pakistani projects persist under the development banner despite viability doubts.
Echoing efforts by Turkey, Qatar, and Iran to ease Pak-Afghan strains, China’s involvement heralds a networked counter-strategy. The outcome? A fortified bloc that dilutes India’s leverage, compelling strategic rethinking in New Delhi as alliances realign.