Latest news with #Taliban-led
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, Afghanistan push ahead with UAP rail project
ISLAMABAD: In a bold bid to reshape the geopolitics of Central and South Asia, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi dialled in a high-stakes phone call on Sunday to push forward the game-changing Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line project. The proposed 573-kilometer rail link, stretching from Tashkent through Kabul to Peshawar and connecting to Gwadar and Karachi ports, carries a projected cost of $4.8 billion. It is poised to serve as a vital artery linking Central Asia's landlocked economies to international markets, potentially turbo charging economic ties and fostering deeper regional connectivity. According to a statement from Foreign Office, the two ministers agreed on the urgency of finalizing the framework agreement swiftly for the UAP Railway project, reflecting a shared commitment to cementing this infrastructure vision. The dialogue follows Dar's recent conversation with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich to coordinate final details for the project's forthcoming signing ceremony. Pakistan, Russia, CARs: meeting on UAP rail plan likely on April 23-24 Beyond infrastructure, the phone call underscored a parallel diplomatic thaw. Afghanistan's Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed Pakistan's recent move to elevate its diplomatic mission in Kabul from chargé d'affaires to ambassador level – a gesture Kabul has pledged to reciprocate by upgrading its envoy in Islamabad. Both countries have been maintaining embassies headed by chargés d'affaires, a reflection of strained ties over decades marked by mistrust and conflict. 'This is a very positive development,' Muttaqi said, framing the diplomatic upgrade as a milestone in the 'brotherly countries'' evolving relationship. The mutual embassies' upgrade follows similar steps by China, the first nation to accept an ambassador from the Taliban-led government, and the UAE, signalling a cautious but tangible international shift towards engagement with Afghanistan's new regime. Both the ministers also reviewed progress on a slate of agreements from Dar's April visit to Kabul, reaffirming their commitment to fostering mutual trust and cooperation in a region historically fraught with geopolitical volatility. As Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan move forward with this massive rail project and diplomatic rapprochement, the moves may herald a new chapter of connectivity and stability in a part of the world long challenged by division and uncertainty. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
India Today
4 days ago
- Business
- India Today
China steps in to stabilise Pakistan-Afghanistan ties amid rising security threats
In a quiet yet decisive move, China is emerging as the most influential external player working to de-escalate tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. As Islamabad grapples with a resurgence of cross-border attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Beijing has assumed the role of mediator, urging both sides to reset their fractured relationship for the sake of regional diplomatic interventionadvertisementThe turning point came during a recent trilateral meeting of foreign ministers from China, Pakistan and Afghanistan in Beijing. More than a diplomatic formality, the meeting helped revive stalled talks and catalyse a breakthrough in relations. With vested interests in securing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and maintaining peace along its western borders, China used its influence to urge the Afghan Taliban to make tangible commitments to address Pakistan's security concerns. One of Beijing's key successes was fostering an agreement for enhanced diplomatic engagement, marked by Pakistan appointing an ambassador to Kabul for the first time since the Taliban takeover in significantly, Chinese officials reportedly conveyed a firm message to the Afghan leadership: reining in anti-Pakistan militant groups is non-negotiable if Kabul seeks continued economic and diplomatic shift: From "Jihad" to "Fasaad"advertisementIn a rare and carefully worded public statement, senior Taliban commander Saeedullah Saeed issued a warning to militant factions in the region. He stated that any act of jihad carried out without the explicit authorisation of the Amir (supreme leader) is not only illegitimate but also constitutes fasaad (corruption) under Islamic law.'Only the Amir of the state has the authority to declare jihad — not individuals or groups,' Saeed asserted, emphasising that unauthorized violence stems from ego or group loyalty rather than genuine interpret this as a direct rebuke to TTP fighters and similar groups operating from Afghan territory. It also subtly acknowledges Chinese concerns, as ongoing instability threatens Beijing's multibillion-dollar investments in South and Central China stepped in?Securing CPEC & BRI: The $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has repeatedly come under threat from militant violence. Stabilising Pakistan's western border is key to protecting China's economic Zone Strategy: Sharing a narrow border with Afghanistan, China aims to prevent the spillover of extremist ideology into its restive Xinjiang region. A stable Afghanistan, supported by Pakistan, serves as a strategic Leverage: With the U.S. and Western allies largely disengaged from Afghanistan, China sees an opportunity to fill the diplomatic vacuum and position itself as a regional payoff for PakistanFor Pakistan, China's involvement is a diplomatic asset. It provides international legitimacy in its campaign against cross-border terrorism and heightens pressure on the Taliban to crack down on TTP sanctuaries. The Taliban's recent statements and willingness to re-engage diplomatically suggest that this pressure is beginning to yield now hopes to translate these developments into concrete security outcomes — including a measurable decline in militant attacks and enhanced intelligence cooperation from InMust Watch
India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Tensions rise between Pakistan and this Muslim country, Pak deploys tanks, fires bombs on....
Tensions rise between Pakistan and this Muslim country, Pak deploys tanks, fires bombs on… Islamabad: Tensions once again increased between Pakistan and Taliban-led Afghanistan on Thursday morning when the armies of both countries fired at each other in the Barmacha border area. This area is located in Afghanistan, parallel to Pakistan's Balochistan province. As per local officials, the tension has arisen due to the construction of new posts on the border, reported, citing local sources. The officials stated that the firing, which began in the morning from both sides, ceased after some time, however, the situation worsened again in the afternoon. According to Pakistan Standard Time, the firing from both sides resumed after 4:30 pm. Officials of the interim administration of Afghanistan's Helmand province have also confirmed this clash. Sources stated that the Pak army deployed tanks and the posts built on the Afghan border were targeted with heavy artillery. Pakistan And Afghanistan Are Arch Enemies It is noteworthy that Pakistan and Afghan Taliban are staunch enemies, both celebrate the death of each other's soldiers. In fact, Afghanistan supporter-TTP is occupying Islamabad's military posts. Despite a history of military defeats, Pakistani army generals continue to display medals. This practice has drawn mockery not from militaries of other countries, but from the Tehreek-e-Taliban. Faceoff Took Place 5 Months Ago Five months ago, Pakistani troops stationed at a military base in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were confronted when the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) raised its flag at the base's entrance. On December 28th, this incident was followed by cross-border attacks on Pakistani territory by Afghan soldiers, with TTP providing support. As per several media reports, as many as 19 Pak soldiers were killed in the attack. The surprise attack shook the Pakistani government. Pak's foreign department spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch also admitted that the Taliban, which Islamabad had been helping for several years, has now become a problem for it.
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Why India Should Be Wary As China Tries To 'Realign' Pak And Taliban
The Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) is now edging towards completing its fourth year in power. In the past four years, India's outreach to the regime has progressed incrementally, transitioning to a more overt but cautiously pragmatic engagement. The latest phone call between India's External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, and the interim Foreign Minister of the IEA, Amir Khan Muttaqi, marked an important milestone in this engagement. The Meeting With Muttaqi The External Affairs Minister (EAM) expressed gratitude towards Muttaqi for condemning the terror attack in Pahalgam and appreciated that they did not buy into attempts to sow distrust between the two countries, an indirect reference to misleading claims made by Pakistan. Over the years, New Delhi's strategy has evolved, making sure that the Taliban are cognisant of their security considerations while slowly committing to increasing its humanitarian and development cooperation with the country. In January this year, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had met Muttaqi in Dubai, the most high-level engagement between the two sides. This also came in the aftermath of the deterioration of ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan as the two engaged in strikes and counter-strikes in December 2024. For India, a reduction in Pakistan's influence in Kabul gives it more space to increase its engagement and better secure its strategic and security interests in the region. The importance of Chabahar port for trade, delivery of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and distancing Kabul from its over-dependence on Islamabad is also seen as an avenue for cooperation. All Are Warming Up To Taliban However, while New Delhi has increased the tempo of its outreach, other countries in the region have been more forthcoming in their engagement. Russia recently removed the Taliban from its list of terror organisations, albeit temporarily. Iran and Central Asian Republics, such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and even Tajikistan, have also increased their engagement with the group. The Taliban also leverages these developments, reiterating their neutral foreign policy based on mutual interests and a quid pro quo approach. When the latest conflict between India and Pakistan was still going on, the Taliban highlighted their relationship with both countries and urged them to show restraint and resolve the issues through dialogue. While India has increased its outreach to the group in the last few weeks, with the call and the April 27 meeting with an Indian delegation led by the Joint Secretary from the MEA, Muttaqi has also been engaging with his counterparts from Pakistan and China. China Plays 'Broker' Following up on the meeting of the Special Representatives of Pakistan and China in Kabul on May 10 in which they met Muttaqi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Muttaqi convened in China for a trilateral consultation with China's Foreign Affairs Minister, Wang Yi, on May 20-21. The three sides reaffirmed their commitment to develop their relations based on mutual interests and good neighbourliness. They also committed to increasing cooperation in the economic and connectivity front and agreed to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan. At the same time, the statement from the emirate did not mention any security cooperation; the Pakistani and Chinese statements referred to their opposition to all forms of terrorism and their commitment to counter it through increased security and law enforcement cooperation. Muttaqi also committed not to let Afghan territory be used against any of its neighbouring countries in his bilateral meeting with Wang Yi. China's Foreign Affairs Ministry also released an outcome statement on the meeting, highlighting Beijing's resolve to assist in increasing the diplomatic engagement between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the statement, Yi mentioned that both Kabul and Islamabad have agreed to exchange ambassadors 'in principle' and that Beijing will provide all assistance to improve their ties. Not All Is Well In Afghanistan The economic commitments made in the statements still have a long way to go, and no progress has been made on the CPEC, with none expected in the near future. But in the aftermath of the conflict between India and Pakistan, China's bid to realign Pakistan and Afghanistan under its sphere can be problematic for New Delhi. For the Taliban, while a good relationship with India allows it to assert its independence from Islamabad, it is for New Delhi to see if its ties with the Taliban can reap the benefits it wishes to get. Even as the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan has deteriorated significantly in the past three-and-a-half years, the two sides have been trying to address their issues and re-engage. In the aftermath of India's military strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, certain terror groups in Afghanistan, particularly the Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), released a statement calling the strikes an 'act of aggression' and resolved to unleash a 'jihad' against the country. As India advances its relationship with the regime, it should also be mindful of the threat posed by the presence of these groups in the country. While the Taliban deny it and deem all international reports as being politically motivated, there are still several terrorist outfits functioning in Afghanistan. The Taliban's ability and willingness to counter them and other groups are still circumspect. While the current regional status quo does give New Delhi more space and incentive to work with the regime in Kabul, the Emirate's ties with China and Pakistan, and the latter's growing coordination on Afghanistan, do pose a huge risk to New Delhi's outreach.
India Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Satellite images show China ramped up Pakistan dam work in late 2024
India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after the Pahalgam terror attack seems to have rattled Pakistan, forcing it to urge ally China to fast-track the Mohmand Dam on the Swat river to bolster its water Monday, China's state broadcaster stated that work has been accelerated on its 'flagship' dam project in Pakistan, in response to India's recent threat to cut off water supply. advertisementIndia Today independently verified satellite imagery showing that construction on the Mohmand Dam project accelerated in September 2024 — months before India suspended the IWT. Satellite images captured by the European Space Agency showed the Mohmand Dam's main rock-fill embankments taking shape in September last year. Soon after, new structures sprouted nearby for support and auxiliary latest satellite image from May 17, 2025, showed a large buildup of cement-like material next to the rock walls, indicating the project has moved into the advanced stage of concrete pouring and structural reinforcement. The dam is not built on western river governed by the Indus Waters Treaty, but on the Swat river, a tributary of Kabul which originates in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountains and flows into Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan is also the lower riparian country in the Indus basin with push to restrict Pakistan's access to the Indus waters has aligned with its outreach to Afghanistan's Taliban-led per reports, India has also accelerated work on the Shahtoot Dam project on the Kabul river in Afghanistan. The dam construction came up during a conversation between External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart during a call on May Shahtoot dam will hold 146 million cubic meters of potable water for 2 million Kabul residents and irrigate 4,000 hectares of land. It will also provide drinking water for a new city on the outskirts of Kabul called Deh project has raised alarm in Pakistan, which fears the dam could disrupt the Kabul river's flow and further cut water access. Since 2001, India has invested around $2 billion in Afghanistan's development, with Afghan experts calling the dam vital for future water security. But in Islamabad, officials view it as part of India's broader strategy to tighten control over Pakistan's water supply, especially by putting the IWT in media outlet Dawn has reported that the flow of the Kabul river could drop by 16 to 17 per cent after the completion of the Shahtoot Dam and other planned dams in the Kabul river Watch
