ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will begin a two-day official visit to China on Monday, May 19, at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. His visit comes in the wake of recent military clashes between Pakistan and India, which have heightened regional tensions.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar and his Chinese counterpart will engage in comprehensive discussions on the evolving security situation in South Asia and its broader implications for peace and stability. The agenda also includes a review of the full range of Pakistan-China bilateral ties and an exchange of views on global and regional developments of shared concern.
This visit highlights the ongoing high-level engagements between the two strategic partners and reflects their commitment to deepening their "all-weather" cooperation.
In a related development, Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will also arrive in China on May 20 to participate in a trilateral dialogue, further underlining Beijing’s diplomatic outreach in the region.
The visit follows a major military escalation between Pakistan and India. In response to cross-border strikes, Pakistan launched “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” targeting Indian military installations. The conflict, which lasted nearly four days, ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on May 10. Pakistan claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets and multiple drones. The confrontation resulted in 53 Pakistani casualties, including 13 military personnel and 40 civilians.
India had blamed Pakistan for an earlier attack in IIOJK that killed 26 tourists, though no evidence was presented.
