August 15, 2021 will be remembered by students of regional and international politics as a significant day in history. On this date, after 21 years, the United States withdrew from Afghanistan under the cover of night. The situation that followed highlighted how badly the U.S war strategy in Afghanistan had failed whether it was the time of 1979 or 2001, and even after the invasion, the U.S. left the region abandoned and unsupported. Following 9/11, the 21-year-long failed war brought about a series of developments in the region. Afghanistan, a Muslim country with a significant population, was used by major powers for their own interests, only to be discarded like a tissue paper afterward. This led to countless issues in the region something we’ve been witnessing since 1979, continuing through 2001 and up until 2021. In light of this entire situation, some recent developments have taken place that have fundamentally altered the geopolitics and geostrategic dynamics of the region. Credit here must be given to the People’s Republic of China. China is a unique power that emphasizes resolving issues through mutual cooperation not only among global powers but also among the countries of the region.
In this context, the People’s Republic of China has recently taken an initiative to maintain a balance of power in the region by bringing together two close, brotherly Islamic countries who have historically had issues on a platform in Beijing. The goal is to resolve all disputes through dialogue and to promote mutual cooperation, which is highly necessary at this time. In this context, a meeting was held in Beijing between the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan. A $60 million project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which connects Western China to Pakistan’s Gwadar port, now includes a new country: Afghanistan. We can call this the extension of CPEC. The purpose of including Afghanistan is due to its geographically strategic location and its geopolitical impact, especially toward Central Asia, where it can play a very important role. Afghanistan is often referred to as the “Heart of Asia” due to this strategic position and it offers a short route connecting Central Asia to the Gwadar Port. Gwadar has now become a central hub of regional connectivity. We can say that this is now a regional project. There was a time when CPEC was considered a bilateral project between two countries Islamabad and Beijing. But now that same project has expanded to become a regional connectivity initiative.
What benefits will Afghanistan itself get from joining this project? Firstly, as a country that has faced prolonged conflict, Afghanistan is facing numerous challenges. Its economic situation is very fragile and economic development is nearly nonexistent. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has almost completely stopped, especially after the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government and his disappearance. Since then, the flow of international investment into Afghanistan has ceased, and development projects have come to a halt. Through CPEC, the doors for Foreign Direct Investment will open again. Secondly, energy and railway tracks will be built, introducing new dimensions to development. The concept of economic development is being reintroduced. Now let’s look at the fact that some countries in the region are uncomfortable with this project India, for instance. India is particularly concerned. One reason is that India has historically had very strong ties with Afghanistan.
There is no doubt that India always seeks to build relationships where Pakistan faces some kind of disadvantage. After the arrival of the Taliban, there was a gap in India’s relationship with Afghanistan. However, this month, India has made an adventurous move in South Asian politics, particularly concerning Pakistan. Since the conflict with Pakistan, India has taken the initiative to rebuild its ties with the Taliban. Contacts have been established with the Taliban so they can be included in India’s strategic landscape.
India has already made significant investments in Afghanistan, including working on many projects like building dams and infrastructure. India even assisted in the construction of the Afghan parliament. For India, Afghanistan is not just a neighboring country it is considered the heart of Asia. Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar had a long telephone conversation with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Indian visits have taken place within Afghanistan’s leadership circles. Even when, in April, a drama was staged in Pahalgam due to Modi’s failed policies, the Taliban leadership issued statements in favor of India and condemned the incident. However, over time, things have changed. China stepped in to promote bilateral relations and brought Pakistan and Afghanistan
together on a platform, sidelining India. Now, the energy-rich links of Central Asia are becoming accessible, and they will be connected through Afghanistan. Gwadar and its Strategic Importance in Trade and Regional Stability Gwadar, located in Pakistan, is the most fundamental trade route, channeling traffic from the Arabian Sea. Several corridors and expansions are being developed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, such as the Peshawar-Kabul Corridor, which is very important. There’s also the Wakhan and Xinjiang Corridor and the Kandahar-Quetta Corridor. Similarly, Western Baluchistan is the hub of Gwadar. India, worried about this entire situation, is trying to destabilize the region. It is targeting school children and innocent civilians. What India finds particularly intolerable is that the region along the Durand Line which India has always used to its advantage to increase tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan is now seeing the start of infrastructure projects. These will include networks of railways and roads, which will enable smooth and efficient trade. India is troubled by this development and, for that reason, is considering investing in Iran’s Chabahar Port. At the same time, Afghanistan seems to be slipping out of India’s influence. India also claims that part of the CPEC route passes through Azad Kashmir, which it does not accept. However, after recent defeats, India is facing failure, and the international community has witnessed Modi’s failed policies and diplomacy.
Now, within India itself, Modi is facing international embarrassment and strong opposition from the Congress party. The strategy Modi followed over the past years-using Pakistan as a tool during elections for his own political gain-has now been exposed. Even the Indian public understands that this era was a failure, filled with tension and terrorism.
The emerging alliance between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China will bring very positive changes to the region. As China is a very close and good friend of Pakistan, we can expect to see significant development and new initiatives in the future.
