KABUL/ISLAMABAD — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar reached Kabul on Tuesday to attend the 6th Trilateral Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan.
On arrival, Dar was received by Afghanistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Naeem, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kabul Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani, and senior Afghan officials. The trilateral talks will focus on expanding cooperation in trade, regional connectivity, and counterterrorism. Dar is also scheduled to meet Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi for a bilateral exchange on issues of mutual concern.
Earlier the Foreign Office announced that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will arrive in Islamabad on August 21 to co-chair the 6th Pakistan–China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Ishaq Dar. The visit is part of ongoing high-level exchanges aimed at strengthening the “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.”
Talks will emphasize mutual support on core national interests, enhancing economic and trade ties, and reinforcing commitments to regional peace and stability. During his stay, Wang will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Discussions are expected to cover CPEC progress, defence cooperation, economic collaboration, and regional security.
Wang Yi’s visit marks his first trip to Pakistan since last year’s border tensions with India and follows his recent meeting with Field Marshal Munir in Beijing—highlighting reinforced “ironclad” ties between China and Pakistan.
Diplomatic sources indicated that following Wang’s Islamabad visit, a trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting involving Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan is likely to take place in Kabul. Dar may accompany Wang for discussions with Amir Khan Muttaqi, though Islamabad remains an alternative venue. The agenda is expected to focus on regional stability and Pakistan’s security concerns regarding Afghanistan.
Officials said the three sides managed to finalize the meeting after weeks of negotiation despite external pressures to derail the process. The gathering is viewed as an important step toward advancing regional cooperation.
Wang’s visit also carries broader regional significance, coming immediately after his stop in New Delhi and ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s scheduled visit to China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.
