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Sept. 8, 2021, 2:12 p.m.
‘Great Game’ Redux in Afghanistan?
‘Great Game’ Redux in Afghanistan?
['China', 'Afghanistan', 'Taliban', 'Russia', 'Beijing']

As China and Russia align their positions in Afghanistan, the West looks on suspiciously.

‘Great Game’ Redux in Afghanistan?

The recent spike in regional terrorist attacks targeting Chinese interests - most notably, the July-August suicide bomb attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan - has China concerned that the Taliban could turn a blind eye to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which has used Afghanistan as a training ground. The group reportedly has 500 fighters stationed in the northern Afghanistan province that neighbors China's Xinjiang via a narrow strip of mountainous land known as the Wakhan Corridor. China recently claimed that the Taliban had become more rational, saying that recognition can follow when Afghanistan forms a "Broadly representative government." China's foreign minister also called on the United States to assist Afghanistan in its economic and political reconstruction and "Positively guide" the new Taliban leadership, eschewing "Double standards" and a selective fight against terrorism. Afghanistan is home to up to $2 trillion worth of extractable rare earth metals, with a great chunk of lithium - an irreplaceable material for the high-tech production prioritized by China's leadership. In a show of growing partnership and political bromance, Russia and China have agreed to foster collaboration over Afghanistan and pledged to strengthen strategic communication and mutually "Safeguard the rightful interests." On August 25, Putin and Xi Jinping aligned their stances on the Afghan issue, sharing mutual concerns and interests and vowing closer cooperation to prevent interference by any foreign country. Such an active international move by Russia and China to break with Western-led efforts on Afghanistan caused resentment in other countries, which view such ambitions negatively and suspiciously.

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