Coalition Proposal: Pakistan Seeks Cooperation with Afghanistan, China, and Bangladesh
Following a visit to China, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, stated in a press conference that Pakistan should move toward the future by forming blocs with Afghanistan, China, and Bangladesh.
However, he provided no details on whether this coalition would be political, military, or economic in nature.
Referring to the recent strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul, Dar noted that ties have been cold in recent years. However, he recently visited Afghanistan and held discussions with senior Islamic Emirate officials on improving bilateral relations.
Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, said: “The trilateral meeting held yesterday had one main agenda: that all three countries should not allow their territories to be used by terrorists against any other country. Similarly, everyone must strive to eradicate terrorism from their countries.”
Political analysts suggest that if this coalition evolves into a shared framework for combating terrorism or fostering economic cooperation, it could be a positive step for the region.
They emphasize that Pakistan must take practical steps to reduce tensions with Kabul and strengthen the environment for dialogue.
Salim Paigir, a political analyst, stated: “If Pakistan’s goal is to include Afghanistan in a military bloc, this is not in the interest of the Afghan people. If it is an economic bloc, it should be expanded to include not only Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan but also India, Iran, and other regional countries. This would benefit the Afghan people.”
Ahmad Khan Andar, another political analyst, said: “We hope Pakistan, in agreement and consultation with the Islamic Emirate, announces such a major coalition. We urge the Islamic Emirate to move forward, considering the current situation, national interests, and the political, economic, and diplomatic relations of our beloved country with others.”
Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that during the trilateral meeting, Afghanistan’s Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar expressed their readiness to elevate diplomatic relations to the ambassadorial level.
