8am: Russians, Chinese, and Iranians, with all their efforts for the formation of “constructive engagement and practical action with the Taliban,” are normalizing and perpetuating terrorism; terrorism that will one day haunt Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran as well. Click here to read more (external link).
Michael Hughes: The Western exit from Afghanistan left the country’s neighbors to deal with the fallout from the Taliban’s grooming of and/or inability to contain transnational terrorist activities. Beijing, likely grasping it does not have the capabilities to reach the growing threat of Afghan-based terrorists targeting China, figures it can at least get something from
Khaama: China has shown increasing interest in accessing the abundant oil, gas, and mineral resources in Afghanistan. The pursuit of dominating the supply chain, particularly in light of advancements in high-tech chips and large-capacity batteries, appears to be a significant driver for Beijing’s engagement with Afghanistan’s rich resources. Jalal Bazwan, a political science professor at
Roshan Noorzai Zheela Noori VOA News February 12, 2024 WASHINGTON — Since the Taliban seized control in August 2021, China, Iran and Russia have been steadily courting Afghanistan’s de facto government for influence. The three countries have kept their embassies open in Kabul and were among the first to hand over Afghan embassies to the Taliban
FP: A drug kingpin whose heroin empire helped fund the Taliban’s long war in Afghanistan—and who was released early from a U.S. prison in a trade for an American hostage—has now gone into business with China. Bashir Noorzai, a close friend of the extremists’ supreme leader, has set up murky joint-venture deals with Chinese firms
By Akmal Dawi VOA News February 6, 2024 A Chinese energy company’s investment of $49 million in Afghanistan’s oil production has helped boost the country’s daily crude oil output to more than 1,100 metric tons, but the funding is just one-third of what Beijing originally pledged. One year ago, China’s Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas
Akmal Dawi VOA News January 30, 2024 Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday received the credentials of ambassadors from several countries, including neighboring Afghanistan, in what amounts to the first official recognition of the interim Taliban government by a major nation. Xi welcomed Bilal Karimi, the Taliban-appointed Afghan ambassador, in a formal ceremony at the
SCMP: The Taliban has completed its first road link between Afghanistan and China, but analysts expect Beijing to be cautious about giving its war-torn neighbour full access to its land border because of security concerns over terrorists and separatist militants. At this stage, China has no customs facilities in the area – where Afghanistan meets
Ariana: The head of Iran’s diplomatic system also added that Afghanistan can be on the path of stability and security when all ethnic groups have a role in the administration and governance of this country. Click here to read more (external link). Related What Will It Take for Taliban to Gain Recognition From China, Others?
Ayaz Gul VOA News December 1, 2023 ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan’s Taliban government announced Friday that China had formally accepted its ambassador to Beijing, hailing the move as an “important chapter” in growing ties between the two neighboring countries. The announcement, yet to be confirmed by China, would make it the first nation to host a Taliban