China pledges to 'continue safeguarding Pakistan', accelerates CPEC agenda as India watches closely

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (R) greets his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi upon his arrival in Islamabad.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday pledged deeper cooperation with Pakistan in industry, agriculture, and mining, vowing to keep Islamabad at the “centre” of Beijing’s regional diplomacy. In talks with Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Wang repeated China’s long-standing promise of backing Pakistan’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity and fight against terrorism” -- a claim that rings hollow given Pakistan’s track record of sheltering terror groups.

Beijing also called for upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), while urging both nations to unite against what Wang termed “unilateral bullying” -- an unmistakable swipe at India and the West.

For India, the signals are clear. Beijing is once again doubling down on its “iron brother” even as Pakistan reels from internal instability, an economic crisis, and international isolation following its continued sponsorship of cross-border terror.

What makes the timing more telling is Wang Yi’s itinerary: his stop in Islamabad comes after visits to New Delhi and Kabul, underlining China’s attempt to play all sides while keeping Pakistan firmly in its orbit. Notably, this reassurance to Islamabad comes barely three months after China was found supporting Pakistan during the May 7–10 conflict -- a move that directly undermined regional stability and India’s security.

The meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad is part of Wang’s broader regional shuttle diplomacy. After first visiting New Delhi, then Kabul, and now Pakistan, Wang’s itinerary highlights Beijing’s balancing act, trying to keep ties with India functional while shoring up its “iron brotherhood” with Pakistan.

China also urged Islamabad to “upgrade” the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and work together to counter “unilateral bullying” in global trade. But the reality is that CPEC has become a debt trap for Pakistan, adding to its economic woes, while Beijing uses the project to entrench its own strategic and economic grip in South Asia.

For India, the messaging is clear. Despite publicly talking peace in New Delhi, Beijing continues to arm Pakistan and prop up its economy, ensuring Islamabad remains a constant thorn on India’s western front. Wang’s latest pitch exposes China’s duplicity: it wants to present itself as a regional stabilizer, while quietly enabling Pakistan’s destabilizing role in South Asia.