The Gold Zone

Pakistan Intercedes Trade Talks with China and Afghanistan

15.10.2019

21:41 PST

SF Bay Area, CA – Intuitively, Pakistan, China and Afghanistan commenced trilateral talks which included trade, counterterrorism and the end of the Afghanistan War. Economically, Pakistan is a major partner to Afghanistan as major hubs in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi create maritime trade both to and from Asia. Moreover, Afghanistan's agricultural industry is critical to regional stability. Meanwhile, Pakistan is seeking to modernize an array of government services to accelerate counterterrorism activity. Furthermore, China is preparing to cooperate with Afghanistan for reconstruction as the Silk Road and Belt integrates Central Asia to Europe and the Far East.

Currently, Afghanistan is at the climax of an 18-year stalemate against the Taliban who has maintained an armed conflict against the US in the nation. Prudently, Pakistan is building trilateral ties with Afghanistan and China which overshadows US peace talks with the Taliban.

Politically, Afghanistan is at a crossroad in which China is rapidly accelerating to fill the void left by US troops in the region. Recently, the Taliban's spokesman Suhail Shaheen stated concerning peace talks with the US, "If we sign an agreement with them, we have the obligation not to attack them and provide them a safe passage. If they withdraw without any peace agreement signing with us, it is up to our consent or willing[ness] whether to attack or not to attack them." Hence, Chinese expansion in Afghanistan and Pakistan is pegged to the regional security as economic growth demands a inclusive political road map.