Why is Afghan Peace Process Crucial for China? The Afghanistan War has been on since 2001 and the focus is now shifting to finding political solutions as the military solutions seem infeasible. In such a scenario, China assumes a responsibility to play a constructive role in Afghanistan’s peace process. Since 2014, China has escalated its efforts to stage a peace process in war-torn Afghanistan.
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Why is the Afghanistan Peace Process Important For China?
China’s interest in establishing peace in Afghanistan is not just restricted to protecting Chinese investments in Afghanistan but also to promote the economic integration of the region by the implementation of its highly ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative can only be implemented to it potentials if there is peace and stability in the region and hence China assumes a large share in the peace process of Afghanistan. China wants to play as a pivot to the entire peace process being a global power and more importantly a regional superpower.
The other aspect is that if regional powers do not come together to safeguard Afghanistan once the US military withdraws then Afghanistan will become vulnerable again hence challenging the security of the entire region. So, to maintain peace and stability in the region it is important that the regional powers see a sense of responsibility towards the Afghanistan peace process.
Since 2001 the war has remained unresolved but now the Afghanistan government and the US look more than ever determined to find political solutions and the US-Taliban meet in Doha is a testament of the same.
When it comes to participating in the peace process in Afghanistan, China has certain leverages over the US. China is geographically much closer to Afghanistan than the US and this gives China an advantage. Secondly, China has no special interests in Afghanistan unlike the US, besides Beijing also enjoys good relations with Kabul.
