Kabul praises Beijing’s move to link Afghanistan with CPEC

New Delhi, Aug 31: Kabul has welcomed China’s decision to include Afghanistan in the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), describing it as a step that could boost regional trade and economic development. The announcement follows trilateral discussions between Beijing, Islamabad, and Kabul, during which Pakistan proposed Afghanistan’s inclusion in the project, reports Tolo News agency of Afghanistan.

According to Pakistani officials, China has agreed in principle to extend CPEC to Afghanistan, with plans under consideration for projects such as the Pakistan–Afghanistan–Uzbekistan railway line and the Peshawar–Kabul highway.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy has hailed the move, saying that closer economic integration could help create growth opportunities in the country.

Analysts, however, caution that the success of such projects depends heavily on Pakistan’s ability to fulfil its trade and transit commitments to Afghanistan.  Alongside CPEC, several other cross-border initiatives are already underway, reflecting growing efforts to integrate Afghanistan more closely with regional economies. These include energy and infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing connectivity across South and Central Asia.

India, however, has consistently opposed CPEC. New Delhi argues that the corridor undermines India’s sovereignty because parts of it pass through Gilgit-Baltistan, a territory India considers illegally occupied by Pakistan. Beyond territorial concerns, India analysts’ views the project as a strategic tool for China to expand its influence in South Asia, raising security and geopolitical risks for the wider region.