Resource Diplomacy and Development Assistance: An Analysis of Opportunities and Challenges in China–Afghanistan Relations
Keywords:
China-Afghanistan relations, regional security, economic development, strategic interests, non-interference, foreign aid, terrorism, post-withdrawal AfghanistanAbstract
In the wake of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the region’s geopolitics are shifting, notably the role of China in Afghanistan. This study examines China's increased involvement in Afghanistan after the US withdrawal, focusing on the opportunities and challenges that arise from this engagement. By examining the trajectory of Afghanistan-China bilateral relations, the study addresses a fundamental question: what are the possibilities and challenges China has encountered, and why has China increased its level of involvement in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal? To answer this question, the paper systematically highlights both the challenges and opportunities in bilateral relations between these two neighboring countries. Moreover, the study posits that, unlike Western powers, China provides aid based on noninterference and without political conditions, which resonates well with Afghan stakeholders. However, challenges remain, including terrorism, political instability, weak state institutions, and competing interests from global powers. The study finds that despite China’s model offering an alternative to military-based interventions, its success depends on navigating complex regional dynamics and maintaining a long-term commitment to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and sovereignty.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 By submitting an article to the editor, the author (s) will automatically grant editors the rights to edit and post the content of the articles on the official website of the Sadiq Journal of Pakistan Studies (SJPS) if accepted. Author (s) retain the copyrights and will grant SJPS the non-exclusive rights of first publication of manuscript electronically and in print form and to identify SJPS as the original publisher under creative commons License. It will allow others to share the content with explicit indication of the authorship and its initial publication in SJPS. Under these licensing terms, the author (s) confirm that all the content of the published manuscript will be distributed in the public domain and other researchers may use it exclusively for the non-profit scientific purpose (s) with the obligatory acknowledgement of authorship. Author (s) reserves unconditional rights to copy and reproduce the published work for teaching, use it in other research and redistribute, share or place the copy of the article to any other medium or format, even commercially only if SJPS is explicitly acknowledged as the original publisher. However, author (s) cannot apply any legal or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything that is already permitted under the license terms.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All the articles editorially accepted for publication by the Sadiq Journal of Pakistan Studies (SJPS) are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Submitting a manuscript to SJPS, the author has to certify that he/ she is authorized by other contributors (s) and co-author (s) to enter the publication process.
He/ She shall assure on behalf of all author (s) that:
- The manuscript is original, it has not been published in any other journal before, is not under consideration for any other journal and does not violate any existing copyrights or any other rights of a third party.
- I/we have full authority to enter into this agreement for granting the rights to SJPS as sole author (s) of the article without breaching any other obligation.
- The manuscript does not contain any unlawful and libelous content or anything that would breach the agreement (s) of confidence, commitment, and secrecy.
- I/we certify that due care has been taken to ensure the reliability of the article. All purported statements and information are facts to the best of my/our knowledge and the currently accepted standards of scientific knowledge. Therefore, any of the proposed methods or instructions will not, if followed accurately, cause any damage or loss to the user (s).
