From Republic to Emirate: Afghan Transformation and Afghanistan–China Relations

China plays a significant role in Afghan reconstruction through its economic and political leverage. Consecutive Afghan governments have granted China a unique position in their foreign policies. During the Republic era, China’s diplomatic endeavors in Afghanistan primarily focused on addressing sec...

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Main Author: Imran Zakeria
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: World Century Publishing Corporation 2024-01-01
Series:China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S2377740024500106
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author Imran Zakeria
author_facet Imran Zakeria
author_sort Imran Zakeria
collection DOAJ
description China plays a significant role in Afghan reconstruction through its economic and political leverage. Consecutive Afghan governments have granted China a unique position in their foreign policies. During the Republic era, China’s diplomatic endeavors in Afghanistan primarily focused on addressing security concerns and acting as a broker between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The complete withdrawal of U.S. troops and the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 presented a new opportunity for China in Afghanistan. While China is eager to monitor security dynamics and access untapped natural resources, the Taliban-led government seeks to gain China’s economic and political support. However, Afghanistan–China relations may lose momentum under the Islamic Emirate, as both sides remain focused on their respective objectives. In the long run, a strategic partnership will be necessary to address China’s security concerns and lay the foundations for Afghanistan’s economic growth. The Taliban government needs to adopt moderate policies conducive to promoting peace, stability, and regional interactions to incentivize Chinese investment in Afghan reconstruction. As a major regional and global power, China can leverage its influence to implement trust-building measures and generate regional consensus to avert a proxy conflict in Afghanistan.
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spelling doaj-art-53647e387bcc48928b5b0de8d6bd33272025-08-20T02:58:18ZengWorld Century Publishing CorporationChina Quarterly of International Strategic Studies2377-74002377-74192024-01-01100223124710.1142/S2377740024500106From Republic to Emirate: Afghan Transformation and Afghanistan–China RelationsImran ZakeriaChina plays a significant role in Afghan reconstruction through its economic and political leverage. Consecutive Afghan governments have granted China a unique position in their foreign policies. During the Republic era, China’s diplomatic endeavors in Afghanistan primarily focused on addressing security concerns and acting as a broker between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The complete withdrawal of U.S. troops and the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 presented a new opportunity for China in Afghanistan. While China is eager to monitor security dynamics and access untapped natural resources, the Taliban-led government seeks to gain China’s economic and political support. However, Afghanistan–China relations may lose momentum under the Islamic Emirate, as both sides remain focused on their respective objectives. In the long run, a strategic partnership will be necessary to address China’s security concerns and lay the foundations for Afghanistan’s economic growth. The Taliban government needs to adopt moderate policies conducive to promoting peace, stability, and regional interactions to incentivize Chinese investment in Afghan reconstruction. As a major regional and global power, China can leverage its influence to implement trust-building measures and generate regional consensus to avert a proxy conflict in Afghanistan.https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S2377740024500106AfghanistanTalibaneconomic engagementregional stability
spellingShingle Imran Zakeria
From Republic to Emirate: Afghan Transformation and Afghanistan–China Relations
China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies
Afghanistan
Taliban
economic engagement
regional stability
title From Republic to Emirate: Afghan Transformation and Afghanistan–China Relations
title_full From Republic to Emirate: Afghan Transformation and Afghanistan–China Relations
title_fullStr From Republic to Emirate: Afghan Transformation and Afghanistan–China Relations
title_full_unstemmed From Republic to Emirate: Afghan Transformation and Afghanistan–China Relations
title_short From Republic to Emirate: Afghan Transformation and Afghanistan–China Relations
title_sort from republic to emirate afghan transformation and afghanistan china relations
topic Afghanistan
Taliban
economic engagement
regional stability
url https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S2377740024500106
work_keys_str_mv AT imranzakeria fromrepublictoemirateafghantransformationandafghanistanchinarelations