South Asia’s chessboard is seeing bold maneuvers as China and Pakistan forge stronger bonds with Afghanistan and Bangladesh during their latest foreign ministers’ huddle. Held in Beijing from January 3-5, the seventh round of strategic dialogue signals a concerted push to dilute India’s dominance through enhanced coordination.
Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Ishaq Dar issued a joint communique committing to trilateral and quadrilateral forums for concrete gains. China casts its Afghan involvement as constructive—hosting dialogues and prioritizing development over rivalry—while urging elimination of terror outfits that threaten global peace.
The statement spotlighted the need to prevent Afghanistan from serving as a launchpad for terrorism, contrasting with Kabul’s insistence that no such groups operate there and that cross-border strikes are Pakistan’s affair. On the economic front, excitement builds around CPEC’s revamped version 2.0, a BRI cornerstone now open to select external partners.
Whispers of linking CPEC to Kabul could flood Afghanistan with Chinese investments, rivaling India’s Chabahar and other initiatives. Yet, Pakistan grapples with BRI debt traps and project feasibility critiques, framed by both nations as vital growth engines.
With Middle Eastern players like Turkey and Qatar also mediating Pak-Afghan tensions, China’s pivot amplifies a multi-front strategy. This convergence could redefine alliances, challenging India’s strategic footprint and heralding a new era of contested influence.