China’s Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, is set to meet with officials from the Taliban this weekend, marking a significant step in Beijing’s efforts to expand its investment in Afghanistan. The meeting, which will take place in Pakistan as part of the China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, will focus on boosting trade ties, regional stability, and transit, including the possibility of bringing Afghanistan into China’s Belt and Road infrastructure project.
Despite the challenging security situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, China has welcomed the country’s participation in Belt and Road cooperation, as the group seeks investment to revive its economy and alleviate its international isolation. Efforts to attract Chinese infrastructure investment to connect Afghanistan with neighboring countries, such as Pakistan, have been ongoing.
However, the Taliban’s hardline ideology, which includes a ban on girls and women’s education and work, has led to a breakdown in engagement with foreign governments. The United Nations has described the resulting economic crisis in Afghanistan as “the largest humanitarian crisis in the world today.”
Despite these challenges, China and Pakistan see maintaining ties with the Taliban as vital to their security interests. Afghanistan is considered a base for several regional terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.
The deteriorating situation in Afghanistan has prompted alarm across the region, with Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, recently meeting with his Pakistani counterpart to discuss the situation. Lavrov called on the Taliban to “deliver on their promises to come up with an inclusive government, ensuring the representation of the full spectrum of political forces in Afghanistan,” adding that this had not yet been done.
As global powers explore investment opportunities in Afghanistan, the question remains as to whether this will lead to meaningful change for the country’s people. Nonetheless, China’s interest in expanding its investment in the country, despite the challenging security situation, underscores its determination to play a more significant role in the region.
