00:00With clasped hands and measured smiles, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan's ruling Taliban met in Kabul this week for their second trilateral dialogue in just 12 weeks.
00:14The talks come after a May meeting in Beijing, which restored strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan and paved the way for discussions on extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghan Territory.
00:30The corridor is a key part of Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, designed to link Asia, Africa and Europe, but analysts warn that China's growing regional footprint
00:44also brings risks, as security challenges threaten projects even.
00:50Within Pakistan, while China is seen as a vital partner for both Islamabad and Kabul, its true influence and willingness to navigate these dangers remains untested.
01:03For now, Beijing continues to balance diplomacy, security and ambition in one of the world's most complex regions.
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