Extension of CPEC to Afghanistan set to deepen trilateral cooperation under BRI: Top business leader

Islamabad: Extension of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan is set to deepen trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI), a top business leader said.

Iftikhar Ali Malik, President of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC-CCI) termed the decision of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan a “wisdom based decision.”

He maintained that it was a good omen that the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan in recent trilateral talks expressed their determination to leverage Afghanistan’s potential as a hub for regional connectivity.

He mentioned that the three foreign ministers also emphasized the significance of ongoing projects such as CASA-1000, TAPI, and Trans-Afghan Railway, highlighting their potential to boost regional connectivity and promote economic development and prosperity in the region.

The ministers, he underlined, further agreed in principle to explore measures to facilitate the movement of people and trade activities besides boasting transit trade through the Gwadar port.

“A peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan is in the best interest of the region. It is high time to further deepen and expand trilateral cooperation in the domains of security, development, and politics guided by the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation, and mutual benefits,” Iftikhar Ali Malik said in a statement issued here.

Malik stressed that the security challenges must be addressed that pose a significant threat to regional and global security and directly impact the stability and economic prosperity of the entire region.

He called upon the international community to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation and provide the necessary supplies, equipment, and technical assistance to relevant countries.

He urged the international community to engage constructively with Afghanistan acknowledging the efforts made under various mechanisms and formats including the neighboring countries of Afghanistan to promote dialogue and meaningful engagement with the Afghan interim government.

He underscored that the global community must support the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan to effectively protect the basic rights and interests of all segments of society including women and children.

Earlier in the day, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community and the Afghan people’s well-being should receive due attention.

“As a traditional friendly neighbor of Afghanistan, we always believe that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community. Afghan people’s well-being should receive due attention,” Wang Wenbin told journalists at a media briefing.

The spokesperson emphasized that Afghanistan’s reconstruction process should be encouraged, and its sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected,” he added.

Referring to the joint statement issued at the end of fifth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue held in Islamabad, he remarked that it reflected the consensus reached and trust for deeper cooperation in political development and security domains.

The spokesperson termed it of great significance to the future of China-Afghanistan relations and regional counter-terrorism and security cooperation.

He pointed out that the fifth dialogue was the first formal dialogue among the foreign ministers of the three countries since the profound change in the situation in Afghanistan in 2021.