In view of Afghanistan's growing closeness with india, china has played a new trick. china has agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to afghanistan by increasing mutual cooperation with pakistan and the Taliban. After a meeting with the foreign ministers of pakistan and afghanistan in Beijing, Chinese Foreign minister Wang Yi announced the extension of CPEC.
Meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries in Beijing
In Beijing, Pakistan's Deputy prime minister and Foreign minister Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign minister Wang Yi and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi discussed promoting trade, infrastructure and development in their respective countries. After the meeting, Ishaq Dar posted on X and wrote, "Pakistan, china and afghanistan stand together for regional peace, stability and development."
India's objection to expansion in a third country
India had objected to the expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in any third country. India's Foreign minister S jaishankar had said last year that the countries participating in the CPEC project would violate India's sovereignty in Jammu and Kashmir. A part of CPEC passes through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), which india objects to. india considers it a violation of its sovereignty. For this reason, india refused to join China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This is a project worth about 60 billion dollars.
Why did china play this bet?
China is afraid that india and Afghanistan should not come close to each other. Recently Afghanistan has shown interest in Chabahar Port. india has developed this port in collaboration with Iran. For this reason, china has played this bet. china was at the forefront of the countries recognizing the Taliban government in Afghanistan. When India's relations with the Taliban started improving, China has again increased its closeness with Afghanistan.
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