KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — China announced on Wednesday that Pakistan and the Taliban have agreed in principle to exchange ambassadors “as soon as possible,” amid strained relations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the announcement following a trilateral meeting in Beijing with Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
“The two sides clearly expressed their willingness to upgrade the level of diplomatic relations,” said Wang, according to a statement by China’s Foreign Ministry. “China welcomes this and is ready to continue assisting the improvement of Afghanistan-Pakistan ties.”
Currently, both Kabul and Islamabad maintain embassies in each other’s capitals but have operated without full ambassadors since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The meeting comes after months of tensions, including Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan late last year that the Taliban said killed dozens of civilians. Pakistan has not confirmed the attacks but insists it is targeting militant groups it claims are using Afghan soil to launch attacks—an accusation the Taliban continues to deny.
In a statement on Wednesday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it welcomed the “positive momentum” in ties, citing enhanced diplomatic engagement and economic cooperation.
China, which does not formally recognize the Taliban government, was the first country to accept a Taliban-appointed ambassador in Kabul last year. Wednesday’s talks also included agreements on trade expansion, regional connectivity, and joint efforts to combat terrorism.
The three sides also agreed to hold the next round of trilateral foreign ministers’ dialogue in Kabul.
Observers see Beijing’s role as increasingly central in mediating Taliban-Pakistan relations, amid rising instability and growing geopolitical interest in the region.
