NEW DELHI: China’s announcement of readiness to boost friendship and cooperation with Afghanistan comes shortly after the Taliban seized control of Kabul. This shows that China has moved with the expectation that with the US-NATO military withdrawal, control of the country will return to the hands of the Taliban.
The Chinese position is that they can cooperate with any government in Afghanistan. China is pushing for this position due to strategic, economic and developmental reasons and the internal problems in Xinjiang province.
It is noteworthy that China was ready to negotiate and reach an agreement with the Taliban before seizing control of the provinces. Although Chinese leaders have held talks with the Taliban in the past, China itself has announced talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Afghan Taliban Political Commission chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on the 28th. After the talks, Wang Yi said that the Taliban is a crucial military and political force in Afghanistan and that they can contribute to peace, reconciliation and reconstruction.
According to reports, the Taliban have assured that attacks on Uyghur Muslims in China will not be removed from Afghan soil if they come to power. China also had good relations with the Ashraf Ghani-led government in Afghanistan. They also see the need to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is also crucial in connecting China to markets in South Asia, the Middle East and the Middle East. The situation in Afghanistan is also important in China’s much-anticipated Silk Road Economic Belt and Belt and Road Initiative. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will also connect South Afghanistan.
China hopes to gain a strong foothold in the region if it has an influential regime in Afghanistan. It wants the interests of the Middle East and Pakistan not to be hindered by Afghanistan.
There are those who doubt that China will not fall into the same trap as what happened to the Soviet Union and the US in Afghanistan. What is significant here is that China’s goals are different than those of other countries. It is clear from the Chinese position that it does not matter who rules.
China ahead in investment
Currently, China tops the list of foreign countries investing in Afghanistan. Trade relations between the two countries are also excellent. The Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership Agreement was signed a few years ago. Many items, including saffron, are heavily imported from Afghanistan to Chinese markets.
China has invested in oil drilling in the Amu Daria river basin in northern Afghanistan, the country’s railways and copper mining in Logar province. China’s list includes the China-Afghanistan rail project, which includes Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Iran. These are important in connecting China with northern Afghanistan.
English Summary: China welcomes Taliban
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