KABUL, 29 September 2021, (TON): The Pakistan’s ambassador to the country said “Pakistan has discussed the Taliban-led Afghanistan joining the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure project.”

Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Pakistan’s envoy to Kabul, said in an interview “regional connectivity is an important element of our discussion with Afghan leadership and our way forward for our economic interaction with Afghanistan.”

“This important project, China Pakistan Economic Corridor, provides good opportunities, good potential for providing infrastructure and energy connectivity between Afghanistan and Pakistan (and) also connecting South Asia to the Central Asian region.”

Says Pakistan is also trying to get curbs lifted on Afghan banking system

Khan said that discussions had been held with the Taliban-led administration on this and other ways to develop the country’s economy.

“I think there has been deep interest in terms of developing economic connectivity of Afghanistan with Pakistan through CPEC and with other neighbouring countries including Iran, China, Central Asian countries.”

In recent days representatives from Pakistan, China and Russia have held meetings with Taliban officials. Khan said security and economic development were the two main topics under discussion and that these countries expected to continue to consult as a group and meet the Taliban going forward.