What We Are Reading Today: Three Revolutions by Simon Hall
Told in tandem with these are the corresponding journeys of three journalists - John Reed, Edgar Snow and Herbert L. Matthews - whose electric testimonies from the frontlines would make a decisive contribution to how these revolutions were understood in the wider world.
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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Pakistan, China, Afghanistan vow joint fight against militancy, to extend CPEC to Kabul
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad, Beijing and Kabul have pledged to strengthen joint efforts against 'terrorism,' deepen cooperation in several sectors and extend a multi-billion-dollar energy and infrastructure project to Afghanistan, the Pakistani foreign office said on Wednesday following talks between the three sides in Kabul. The trilateral dialogue between China, Pakistan and Afghanistan was institutionalized in 2017. It aims to promote political trust, counterterrorism coordination and economic integration between the three countries. The talks helped ease tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, who have been at odds with each other amid a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan. There has been a thaw in relations after both sides agreed to elevate diplomatic ties in May to the ambassadorial level. China brokered the deal in an informal meeting in Beijing to improve relations between the two neighbors, under which it was also agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan. 'The Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue was held on 20 August 2025 in Kabul,' Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson said in a statement issued after the meeting, which was attended by the foreign ministers of the three countries. 'The three sides committed to strengthen joint efforts against terrorism,' the statement said, adding that the dialogue focused on political, economic and security cooperation between the three. 'They [Pakistan, China & Afghanistan] also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration in trade, transit, regional development, health, education, culture, and combating drug trafficking as well as extension of CPEC to Afghanistan,' the spokesperson said. CPEC is a multi-billion-dollar project that aims to connect China and Pakistan through a network of roads, railways, and energy pipelines. Dar held a bilateral meeting with his Afghan counterpart, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, on the sidelines of the dialogue. Both welcomed the recent elevation of diplomatic ties between the two countries from chargé d'affaires to the ambassadorial level, a separate statement from the foreign office said. 'Dar acknowledged the encouraging progress in political and commercial ties, while expressing progress in the security domain, especially in counterterrorism, continues to lag behind,' the foreign office said. Dar highlighted a recent surge in militant attacks inside Pakistan, saying the attacks were perpetrated by groups operating from Afghan soil. He urged Afghan authorities to take 'concrete and verifiable measures' against entities such as the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)/Majeed Brigade. Islamabad alleges these militant groups, which carry out attacks against Pakistani law enforcers, operate from sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Kabul denies the accusations. 'The Afghan Acting Foreign Minister reaffirmed Afghanistan's commitment to ensuring its territory is not used by any terrorist group against Pakistan or other nations,' the statement added. 'VERY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT' Foreign affairs experts said the trilateral dialogue in Kabul was a 'positive development' that could help address Pakistan and China's shared concerns over 'terrorism.' 'This is a very positive development as Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan sat together and agreed to work jointly to rid the region of terrorist elements,' Naghmana Hashmi, Pakistan's former ambassador to China, told Arab News. She said the commitment expressed by the three neighboring countries to extend CPEC to Afghanistan was also an encouraging sign that would help the project achieve its true potential. 'It is a natural extension, since without peace in Afghanistan and smooth transit routes through its territory, CPEC cannot fully deliver for Pakistan, which needs access to Central Asian states and beyond,' she added. Former Pakistani diplomat Asif Durrani said the outcome of the meeting would become evident in the coming weeks, depending on whether cross-border 'terrorism' incidents take place or not. 'It is an ongoing process and some improvement has taken place, so we remain cautiously optimistic and keep our fingers crossed,' he said. Durrani said growing engagements at the leadership level were encouraging for both Pakistan and Afghanistan. 'It is important that both countries keep talking, as seen in the case of Pakistan and India, where dialogue stopped and unresolved issues created a visible regional impact,' he added. The trilateral talks took place as Pakistan presses ahead with a deportation drive against 'illegal immigrants,' mostly Afghans, which it launched in 2023 citing security fears and illegal migration. The process has continued in phases, with Islamabad now planning to expel documented Afghan refugees after Sept. 1, having refused to extend their stay permits.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Chinese company eyes building maritime industrial complex, green shipbreaking yard in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Chinese company Shandong Xinxu Group met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, expressing interest in building a maritime industrial complex in Pakistan and constructing a green shipbreaking yard in the country, Sharif's office said in a statement. Shandong Xinxu Group Co., Ltd. is a high-tech energy enterprise integrating the renewable energy industry chain, including dedicated battery equipment, nuclear power equipment, urban wastewater treatment projects and renewable smart energy storage systems. According to its website, Shandong Group's products have been exported to more than 40 countries and regions such as Pakistan, India, Tunisia and Belarus. Business at the shipyard has declined in recent years as Pakistan navigates a tricky path to recovery from a prolonged macroeconomic crisis. The shipbreaking industry has also taken a hit due to worldwide calls to stop beach scrapping because of the danger and environmental damage from pollutants left to drain into the sea. Sharif met Shandong Group's delegation, led by its chairman Hou Jianxin in Islamabad, the PMO said. During the meeting, Sharif invited Chinese industries to invest in Pakistan, assuring them that the government will provide all possible facilities for the establishment of Special Economic Zones. 'Shandong is interested in establishing a maritime industrial complex in Pakistan,' the statement said. 'The Chinese company will build a green shipbreaking yard in Pakistan.' During the meeting, the two sides were also briefed that Pakistan has immense potential in the ship-breaking and ship recycling sectors. Gadani in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province once used to be one of the world's main destinations for end-of-life vessels. Here, old and decommissioned ships were regularly dismantled and their parts, especially steel, were recycled, reused or resold. In June, Pakistan's government approved Rs12 billion [$42 million] to transform the Gadani ship-breaking yard into a 'model green facility' to reduce pollution and manage hazardous waste, the maritime affairs ministry had said. During the meeting, both sides were also briefed that the Chinese enterprise aims to benefit from Pakistan's potential in fishing, fish processing and in the processing of date fruits. Pakistan has been pushing for foreign investment in its key economic sectors ever since it came to the brink of a sovereign default in 2023 before an International Monetary Fund loan program helped it avert the crisis. Pakistan considers China a key regional, economic and strategic partner. Since 2013, Beijing has invested tens of billions of dollars in energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a major segment of China's Belt and Road Initiative that aims to build land and maritime trade routes linking Asia with Africa and Europe.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
China's FM arrives in Pakistan for strategic dialogue following India visit
ISLAMABAD: China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to attend the sixth round of the Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue between the two countries, Pakistan's foreign office said in a statement, days after he held talks with India's top political leadership. The top Chinese diplomat arrived in India on Monday and met Foreign Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as well as National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to hold talks regarding the countries' disputed border in the Himalayan mountains. He later met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well. Yi's visit also comes months after a brief but intense military standoff between India and Pakistan in May, during which Islamabad deployed Chinese-made fighter jets and missiles against Delhi. India alleged that Beijing actively supported Pakistan's military response. Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received Yi after he arrived in Islamabad, the foreign office said. 'Mr. Wang Yi is visiting Pakistan to co-chair with DPM/FM the 6th round of Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue being held on 21 August 2025,' the foreign office said. Institutionalized in 2017, the strategic dialogue provides a platform for high-level engagement on regional developments, reaffirmation of shared interests and coordination on multilateral issues between both neighbors. Pakistan considers China a major investor and regional ally. China is Pakistan's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $25 billion in recent years, and Chinese companies have already invested heavily in power, transport, infrastructure, and telecoms projects across the country as part of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. Pakistan's foreign office said in a statement on Tuesday that Yi's visit is part of the regular high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China to further deepen their 'All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.' It said the visit would also reaffirm support on core interest issues, enhance economic and trade cooperation, and reaffirm both nations' joint commitment to regional peace, development and stability.
