Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In a major diplomatic move, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced Thursday that Islamabad seeks to form a regional bloc with Afghanistan, China, and Bangladesh to strengthen cooperation and address common challenges.
Speaking at the All Pakistan Chambers Presidents’ Conference, Dar emphasized the need for Pakistan to advance through strategic partnerships. He revealed that he had held recent high-level meetings with Taliban officials in Kabul and met Afghan counterparts again during a visit to China.
Dar participated in a trilateral summit in Beijing alongside the foreign ministers of China and Afghanistan. At a press conference, he said the three countries had agreed not to allow their territories to be used against one another.
He also noted that Afghanistan and China had jointly pledged to prevent terrorist groups from operating within their borders. However, Dar cautioned that combating terrorism is a long-term process and cannot be resolved instantly.
The proposed bloc is seen as a significant step in Islamabad’s regional strategy, especially amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and growing security concerns.
