China, Pakistan, and the Taliban have decided to extend the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to Afghanistan during their fifth tri-party foreign ministers dialogue in Islamabad on May 6.
“The three sides reaffirmed their resolve to fully harness Afghanistan’s potential as a hub for regional connectivity. Reaffirming their commitment to further the trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and to jointly extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan,” said a joint statement released by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs two days later.
The announcement comes amid various developments in the South Asian region. Multiple experts told The Epoch Times that the tri-party announcement on BRI in Afghanistan indicates China’s economic priorities in Afghanistan amid growing regional competition for connectivity and mineral resources….