AFGHANISTAN AND THE U.S.-CHINA RIVALRY: 2021-2024

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to understand where Afghanistan stands in the United States-China rivalry after 2021, when the Taliban came to power. It is well understood that both China and the United States have been engaged in “competition” since at least the last decade. The Afghan Taliban came to power in 2021, and they have not yet decided in clear terms where they stand in the rivalry between the two major powers. This paper focuses around the question of their “position” between China and the United States. The study properly investigates and examines the statements of the Taliban’s foreign ministry and the spokesperson about the United States and China. The geographic location of Afghanistan has always attracted great powers’ competition in the region. Today, as the world is faced with another great power's struggle for domination, it is important to understand where the Afghan government stands. This study argues that the initial stance of each of these states decided the future journey with the Taliban. The United States has been pursuing a policy to keep the Taliban in control over the two main leverages, the economy and recognition. Their policy has been all about keeping them engaged, yet not doing what the Taliban need. China, in initial times, responded in a more receptive manner and remains the only major state to actively engage the Taliban and help them in the economy and diplomatic outreach. The Taliban, though, takes a neutral stance. They continuously talk about their “legitimate” relations with all. They want and pursue the policy to remain as neutral as possible if Afghanistan want to become prey to another, “New Cold War”.