Taliban-China friendship

The Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has recently highlighted the ongoing cooperation between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). According to the Afghan Spokesman, several Chinese investors met with the Afghan acting Minister for Mines and Petroleum and expressed their satisfaction with the favorable environment for investment, created by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Chinese investors specifically showed keenness in marble exploration, processing and exports.

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has emerged as the single largest economic and business partner of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), since the hardcore Cleric regime regained its control of the South Asian country in August 2021. There had been multiple visits of high level dignitaries of both nations along with frequent interactions of business community and entrepreneurs from both sides to transform their economic relations into a strategic partnership. Amid western sanctions and a reluctance from the Muslim community to forge ties with Kabul, Beijing seems to be eager to fill that vacuum through massive investment in energy and mining projects, security cooperation against Daesh, providing more space to Afghan goods into the Chinese market. Over 40 million strong Afghanistan is the potential market for Chinese tech and industrial giants in the coming years. On the other hand, the Islamic Emirate perceives Beijing as a credible partner and intends to build a strong economic and trade ties with China to shed away the notions about its global isolation and failure.

Historically, Beijing has great concerns about the congregation of terror outfits including Daesh, the TTP, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and multiple others in neighbouring Afghanistan that is not only a serious hazard to regional security but creates a grave risk for its internal security which is already in the global headlines at this time. Beijing intends to defuse this risk through cooperation with the Taliban, so no other nation can use China’s backyard for manipulating the situation in Xinjiang. Presently, the bilateral relations between Kabul and Beijing are on upward trajectory causing fear in the Western Capitals about China’s recognition of the Taliban that might come at a later stage. There are wide ranging concerns, hopes and scopes regarding Afghanistan-China bilateral engagement, However, the real impact and utility of this relationship would be evident in due course of time.