Pakistan and Taliban have terror talks as China Big Brother plays; India is watching fine: What is cooking?

On August 20, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reached Kabul for talks with Taliban leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is his first trip since a surprise visit in March 2022. His visit followed a rare stop in India, where he met Premier Narendra Modi after three years. Premier Modi will also travel to China later in August for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. It will be his first journey there within seven years. Tires between India and China slowly improve after the deadly collision of 2020. Beijing’s strong bond with Pakistan still causes suspicion in India. Neither China nor Pakistan formally recognize the Taliban government. Yet Beijing quietly played the role of Big Brother. Wang will visit Pakistan for three days later to meet Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Kabul talks will cover terrorism issues and plans to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Afghanistan. The project is part of China’s belt and road plan. The meeting then came to Kabul and Islamabad approaching trade and safety discussions. Dar traveled to Kabul earlier in April. In July, China’s envoy, Yue Xiaoyong, Afghanistan and Pakistan visited. Tension between the two neighbors centers on the Tehreek-I-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad claims Kabul is hiding the militant group. TTP also threatens Chinese projects such as CPEC. After recent discussions, the Taliban Afghan soil would not be used for TTP actions. Pakistan and Afghanistan grow closer to trade. Last month, their Deputy Ministers of Trade entered into an agreement in Islamabad to lower rates on the export of farm. Both countries, along with Uzbekistan, also planned a railway study connecting Central Asia with Pakistan’s ports through CPEC. India is opposed to this step because it sees Afghanistan within its strategic sphere. Should India worry? While China and Pakistan talk to the Taliban, India can watch the cuisine closely. In a May report in the Express Tribune, it is alleged that China, Pakistan and the Taliban agreed privately to limit India’s role in Afghanistan. The concept was achieved at a secret meeting in Kabul between Pakistan’s envoy Mohammad Sadiq Khan, the representative of China, Yue Xiaoyong and the acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, of the Taliban. Conversations centered to limit India’s presence to diplomacy, while discouraging any greater role. According to sources, China promised political and economic support. According to the report, Pakistan sought support against India and cooperation against the Islamic State.