Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will head to China on Monday for bilateral discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. This is Dar’s first official trip abroad after India’s Operation Sindoor attack on terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Trilateral meeting with China and Afghanistan
Geo News reports that Dar will also host Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is set to arrive in China on Tuesday. The three leaders will engage in a trilateral meeting aimed at regional cooperation.
The foreign ministers of the three nations are likely to discuss increasing regional trade, deeper security cooperation, and the changing dynamics of the region, especially after the recent conflict between Pakistan and India,” Geo News quoted.
India-Pakistan conflict and ceasefire
The top-level negotiations follow only days after India and Pakistan agreed on May 10 to bring an end to a short but fierce fight. The four-day clash involved a series of back-and-forth drone and missile attacks. China’s selection as the site of Dar’s inaugural diplomatic trip following the escalation is seen as geopolitically significant.
Beijing had openly embraced the ceasefire, saying, “It is in the fundamental and long-term interest of both countries, and is conducive to regional peace and stability.”
Operation Sindoor: Terror strongholds targeted by India
India initiated Operation Sindoor on May 7 after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead. As part of the operation, Indian forces launched precision attacks against terror bases in Pakistan and PoK.
Indian Defence Forces stated that the attacks had eliminated more than 100 terrorists and destroyed important sites linked with organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
Pakistan’s response and India’s defence retaliation
After the Indian attacks, Pakistan made retaliatory assaults on Indian military camps on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian forces could successfully repel these attacks utilizing native defence technologies, the Akash Teer surface-to-air missile system among them.
In a retaliatory strike, the Indian Air Force attacked Pakistani airfields like Rahim Yar Khan and disabled radar facilities.
Strategic importance of China visit
Dar’s future interactions with Wang Yi and Muttaqi will likely be directed at regional stability, economic cooperation, and bilateral security arrangements. Commentators view the visit as an important diplomatic maneuver by Pakistan to strengthen regional ties following increased tensions with India.
The visit is also likely to demonstrate China’s ongoing role as an important diplomatic influencer in South Asia, particularly in balancing India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
