China Mediates Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions Over TTP Threat
Amid growing security threats along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, China has stepped in to mediate strained ties between Islamabad and the Taliban-led Afghan government. A high-level trilateral meeting held in Beijing on May 21, 2025, brought together the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to revive suspended dialogue and reduce the frequency of cross-border attacks allegedly launched by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Afghan soil. China’s diplomatic intervention is driven by its urgent need to secure the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has repeatedly come under threat due to militant violence in the region.
Diplomatic Breakthrough: Ambassadors to be Appointed
As a major outcome of the Chinese-brokered dialogue, Pakistan has agreed to appoint an ambassador to Afghanistan, marking its first official ambassadorial appointment since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The Taliban administration has welcomed the move and pledged to reciprocate by sending an envoy to Islamabad. While both nations had maintained basic diplomatic operations through embassies, this exchange of ambassadors is being viewed as a thaw in bilateral relations and a signal of resumed high-level engagement after months of heightened tensions.
Taliban Reins in Militancy to Ease Pressure
In a significant and calculated message likely influenced by Beijing’s mediation, Taliban commander Saeedullah Saeed issued a public warning to jihadist groups, stating that any “jihad” without approval from the Amir (the Taliban’s supreme leader) would be considered “fasaad,” or chaos, and thus un-Islamic. The statement appears to target factions like the TTP operating independently and undermining the Afghan regime’s legitimacy. This stance marks a cautious shift in the Taliban’s rhetoric, indicating their willingness to curb transnational militancy if it threatens their international standing and jeopardizes relations with key partners like China.
Beijing’s Stakes: BRI, Xinjiang, and Stability
China’s deeper engagement in Afghanistan and Pakistan is not simply altruistic diplomacy—it is a high-stakes strategy to protect the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments, particularly CPEC, which links Xinjiang to the Arabian Sea via Gwadar. Additionally, Beijing is wary of extremist spillover into its restive Xinjiang province, which shares a narrow border with Afghanistan. The Taliban’s continued inability to rein in groups like the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) has made China increasingly assertive in regional diplomacy, filling a vacuum left by the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces.
A New Regional Equation in the Making
China’s peacemaker role underscores its growing clout in South and Central Asia. While previous diplomatic efforts led by Western powers have failed to deliver long-term regional stability, China’s realpolitik-driven approach, focused on economic leverage and security assurances, is gaining traction. For Pakistan, Chinese involvement provides a much-needed diplomatic cover and international support in its campaign against the TTP. For Afghanistan, it offers economic incentives in exchange for compliance on regional security matters. If successful, this triangular cooperation could lay the foundation for a new regional order—one dictated less by ideology and more by investment, infrastructure, and influence.
