China sees the wisdom in strengthening Kabul for the benefit of the region
New Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s first foreign visit was to China. He was warmly received by the Chinese President Xi Jinping himself at the airport, which shows the increasing importance of Afghanistan to China. China, being a crucial neighbour, has serious stakes in peace and stability in that country. Therefore, based on the Chinese ethos of helping friends, Beijing’s current focus is centred on capacity building of Afghans through financial assistance and investments, enabling them to meet upcoming challenges successfully.
China, during Ghani’s visit, reiterated its resolve to help Afghanistan overcome risks to its crucial post-2014 political, security and economic transition and announced non-reimbursable grant of RMB 500 million (US$ 81.4 million) for 2014 and a further grant of RMB 1.5 billion (US$ 244 million) for 2015-17. Moreover, China will provide 500 scholarships for students and train 3,000 Afghan professionals in various fields over a period of five years.
China’s new leaderships’ proactive diplomacy has gradually started showing positive results, especially in the context of economic relations and regional connectivity. In the recent years China’s emerging role as a factor of regional stability in South and Central Asia is gaining pre-eminence. Initiation of Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road commonly known as ‘One Road – One Belt’ is fast gaining acceptance and popularity amongst Eurasian and Southeast Asian nations. Afghanistan being a conduit connecting Central Asia and South Asia has an important role to play in terms of intra-regional connectivity, therefore economic reconstruction, political reconciliation and capacity building of Afghan armed forces, to deal effectively with the menace of terrorism and extremism, are some of the shared objectives of the neighbours of Afghanistan. Each neighbour will have to play a constructive role if the dream of building a ‘community of shared destiny’ in Asia is to be realised.
China traditionally has been keeping a politically low-profile on Afghanistan for some obvious reasons, one of them being overwhelming presence of the US and NATO; it did not want to convey any wrong signals
China traditionally has been keeping a politically low-profile on Afghanistan for some obvious reasons, one of them being overwhelming presence of the US and NATO; it did not want to convey any wrong signals. Now, with the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, a new challenge has surfaced for neighbouring countries as to how the factors of instability could be pre-empted. This could only be achieved by strengthening the capacity of Afghanistan’s elected government and developing a broader consensus amongst the stakeholders. Therefore, it was for the first time that China held an international conference on Afghanistan.
As a host of the ‘Heart of Asia Conference’ which was the 4th round of the ministerial conference of the Istanbul process, China seems ready to shoulder its regional responsibilities and international obligations for promotion of peace and development in Afghanistan.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s first state visit to China, which was followed by attending the Conference in Beijing, provided an opportunity for in depth exchange of views between the Chinese and Afghan leadership. During the visit President Ghani was told by the Chinese President Xi Jinping that “China will enhance its support for Afghanistan’s peaceful reconstruction, help Afghanistan frame a plan on national economic and social development, train professionals and develop agriculture, hydroelectricity and infrastructure.” Ghani expressed his gratitude and said that “Afghanistan views China as a reliable strategic partner and believes that China can help it speed up its development and is ready for long-term strategic cooperative partnership.” The signs of deepening understanding and trust between China and Afghanistan are becoming clearer. Earlier, China and Afghanistan signed a ‘Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighbourly Relations’ in 2006. As their bilateral relations evolved the two countries entered into a ‘Strategic Partnership’ through another treaty signed in 2012. The recent surge in terrorist activities in Xinjiang and other cities of China has necessitated a regional counter-terrorism approach targeting the root-causes. This can only happen if Afghanistan and bordering regions of Pakistan are stabilised by dismantling terrorist hideouts and networks.
Afghanistan’s plunging into chaos is a nightmare for regional stability that suits nobody. It is in the long-term interest of all the countries to cooperate with each other in containing cross-border movement of terrorists
China is taking keen interest and assuming a key role in eradicating poverty (one of the root causes of terrorism) in its neighbourhood by making investments and undertaking construction of infrastructural projects for better communication and expansion of trade. China’s approach towards Afghanistan is inclusive as reflected by Xi Jinping’s consultations with his Indian, Russian, Pakistani and other counterparts. China has expressed interest to become part of all innovative initiatives aimed at preventing political chaos and infighting amongst Afghan groups and supports an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. At the Heart of Asia Conference, Chinese premier Li also presented a five point proposal for Afghanistan’s stability, including self-governance, promoting political reconciliation, speeding up economic reconstruction, exploring a development path for the country, and strengthening external support. China for the last two years has also appointed a special envoy on Afghanistan for regular consultations.
Afghanistan’s plunging into chaos is a nightmare for regional stability that suits nobody. It is in the long-term interest of all the countries to cooperate with each other in containing cross-border movement of terrorists and try to clear the region from the menace of terrorism, extremism, separatism and narcotics trade. Peace development and economic integration needs to be placed on top priority.
China over the years has also emerged as the largest investor in mining and energy sectors in Afghanistan and during the recent visit the Afghan president expressed his country’s willingness to cooperate with China in areas like oil and gas, mining and infrastructure projects besides welcoming Chinese investments in the country. With Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s recent visit to China a new chapter in China-Afghan relations has opened. China in the coming months will take concrete measures to support Afghanistan’s efforts for sustainable capacity building in all sectors.
Fazal Sir, your analysis is well articulated and well timed. I think the strategic vacuum after the proposed withdraw of Allied forces from Afghanistan will be give China a Quantum leap for China to explore new horizons in Afghanistan and CARs. The Chinese resurgence in Afghanistan is almost very important for Pakistan.
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