By Ali Abbas
As an emerging economic power China has started to play an important role as responsible global power. Especially, by exploring different ways for the political and economic stability and peace in Afghanistan,
China has supported all necessary measures to facilitate possible reconciliation between the Taliban stakeholders and Afghan government. China is playing as a bridge between Pakistan and Afghan government to improve their bilateral relations in the region.
The Sino-Pak-Afghanistan Trilateral Mechanism was established to foster the Afghan peace process and better connectivity and regional development. The mechanism of trilateral collaboration extends the economic corridor between China and Pakistan to Afghanistan under the shadow of BRI. The economic connectivity depends on regional security and peace, particularly in Afghanistan. The unstable and mistrust relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan can also complicate the regional connectivity of the economic corridor. China’s involvement in the Afghan peace process revolves around the expansion of BRI network, US presence in the region and the increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan.
The trilateral mechanism and efforts cannot give positive results if these countries do not successfully address the long going security issues. First, Pak-China should prioritize regional security and counterterrorism measures where it is possible for the extension of regional economic corridors to other countries. Pakistan desires peace on Afghan border, and regional economic connectivity with Afghanistan.
The major three actors in the region (Pakistan-China-Afghanistan) have different capabilities and domestic political dynamics. China is an emerging global power, Pakistan is a developing country meanwhile Afghanistan is a country with political and security instability. In this context, the success of the trilateral mechanism will depend on China’s integral role to assist financially through investment and also with an active involvement in political process. China is already investing in Pakistan through its economic corridor, under BRI project, it can also engage Afghanistan through investments aimed to bring peace and stability.
The basic interest of China’s in Afghanistan is to secure its borders and prevent any possible cross border terrorism that will disrupt the dream of Belt and Road Initiative. The China’s security dilemma is compounded with Beijing’s keenness to see the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. The withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan can potentially lead to the resurgence of terror groups and their activities possible spillover into China. Apparently, India lies on the other side of the fence, China has also offered India to join economic corridor so India should rethink and reconsider its relationship with is neighboring countries and take part in the regional mechanisms for peace and economic connectivity.
Basically, the mechanism of trilateral collaboration and cooperation is a complicated and also involves more other actors as well. Pakistan and Afghanistan share geostrategic location, and also common socio-economic issues, which can be only address through a healthy cooperation based on mutual trust and interest. In Afghan peace process Pakistan has a major role as a neighboring country as well as having common issues, threats and interests. The China’s Belt and Road Initiative project has different corridors like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and China-Central Asia corridor. Both are important for the success and accomplishment of BRI and their connection lies Afghanistan. China’s concern routes of BRI, geo-strategic location of Afghanistan lies at the junction of two important economic corridors.
China believes that regional instability can be refuted through economic development. Improving the regional connectivity through economic corridors is crucial this can also pave the ways for the exploration of countries economic potential. The regional rivalries jeopardize and threaten the Afghanistan’s peace process and economic development. Indian rivalry with China and Pakistan in the South Asian region can hamper any step for economic activity. As an important and prominent power of the region India should engage in economic connectivity with Pakistan and China and play its role to bring economic stability and peace.
Pakistan and China have mutual understanding regarding regional peace and economic connectivity in the region. It is also in China’s interest to have peace in its periphery for the expansion of BRI. The cooperation among Pakistan, China and Afghanistan can be seen through the lenses of stability, counter-terrorism, development and reconstruction. But the development and reconstruction depends on the stability in the region, the trilateral mechanism needs broader regional consensus and it also need support from the USA and India. Any meaningful trilateral cooperation depends on peace in Afghanistan.
Author: Ali Abbas – PhD Scholar at the School of Politics and International Studies, Central China Normal University Wuhan. He holds M.Phil. Degree in International Relations from National Defence University Islamabad, Pakistan. His Ph.D. research focuses on the Strategic triangular relationship between Pakistan-China and the USA in the 21st century. His research area of interest further includes South Asian studies, Extremism, and terrorism, foreign policy of great powers. He writes in China Daily, Modern Diplomacy, Eurasia Review, South Asian Journal and Always CCNU Magazine. Currently he is working as Editor of “Always CCNU” Magazine.
Image Credit: Afghan Foreign Minister
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