ISLAMABAD, 17 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan and China have formally activated a joint commission for the management of their shared border, with its inaugural meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad. The meeting was co-chaired by Li Ya, Deputy Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Bilal Mahmood Chaudhry, Director General for China Affairs at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the Foreign Office, the commission was established under the 2013 agreement between Pakistan and China on border management and has now been formally operationalized. The platform will facilitate coordination on border management, maintenance of boundary markers, management of cross-border facilities, joint surveys and assessments, trade, and people-to-people contacts, as well as other practical matters. Officials said the initiative would further strengthen cooperation on movement and trade through the Khunjerab Pass, as well as matters related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The commission is not related to any border dispute but has been established to ensure effective management of the already demarcated shared border and address practical issues through institutional coordination.