Days After India’s Taliban Outreach, China Huddles With Pakistan, Afghanistan

Days after India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi – the first ministerial-level outreach by India to Afghanistan’s Taliban administration, China has moved swiftly to organise a meeting between Islamabad and Kabul.

At the informal meeting, moderated by China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, both Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed “in principle” to send ambassadors to each other’s country as soon as possible. They also expressed their willingness to upgrade the level of diplomatic ties, a statement by China’s foreign ministry has said.Besides the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held bilateral talks with Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar separately.

Beijing, which aims to foster stronger ties between Islamabad and Kabul, has swung into action after seeing India’s outreach to the Taliban administration. China was the first country to accept an ambassador from the Taliban-run administration in Kabul though it does not formally recognise its government. New Delhi, which has also kept diplomatic channels open, is yet to officially recognize the Taliban government.India and the Taliban administration have been taking steps to strengthen ties since August 2021, when the regime came to power after US’ withdrawal from Afghanistan. Over the years, a series of meetings between Indian diplomats and Taliban officials have worked towards broader cooperation between the two countries which have shared historic ties.

Though ties have not yet normalised, India’s policy towards Afghanistan under the Taliban regime has been focused on providing humanitarian aid and the well-being of Afghan citizens. Diplomatic initiatives have also been ongoing towards bringing normalcy to ties. A series of diplomatic meetings have also taken place over the last one year.

A high-level meet also took place in Dubai in January this year, when foreign secretary Vikram Misri, along with an Indian delegation met Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and an Afghan delegation. The two leaders held wide-ranging bilateral talks, including on Chabahar Port.