The third Belt and Road Forum, hosted by China in Beijing, (October 17-18, 2023) was significant for several reasons. 2023 marks 10 years of the Belt and Road Initia

The third Belt and Road Forum, hosted by China in Beijing, (October 17-18, 2023) was significant for several reasons. 2023 marks 10 years of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – dubbed as China’s version of the 

 In the past 10 years, the global world order has witnessed significant changes – with a steady deterioration in ties between Beijing and Washington. During his address at the forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping while highlighting the achievements of the BRI criticised the western – especially US – attempts to ‘decouple’ from China. Said 

“We stand against unilateral sanctions, economic coercion, decoupling, and supply chain disruption”

The BRI has drawn flak for leading to unsustainable debts – referred to as ‘debt trap’. Several countries have renegotiated and even 

 BRI related projects in certain cases. Economic crises in two South Asian nations – 

 have been attributed to excessive economic dependence upon China. Apart from reducing their dependence upon China, western countries have also been trying to present alternative 

 initiatives to the BRI. These include the Global Gateway – launched by the European Commission in 

, Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) at the G7 Summit in 2022, launched by the US and the India-Middle Eastern Corridor announced at the 

 in New Delhi in September 2022 (also endorsed by the US).

While several countries may realise the pitfalls of the BRI, none of the initiatives, touted as competitors to the BRI, have taken off on the ground in a substantial manner.  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said that it was important to shed 

Afghanistan’s participation in the BRI Forum

While there were representatives from 130 countries at the forum, the Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan was represented by the acting Commerce Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi. Last month, China had appointed an 

 to Afghanistan and the former has shown interest in strengthening economic ties with Afghanistan. An 

 and the Taliban dispensation with regard to drilling oil from the Amu Darya in January 2023. Earlier this year, another Chinese company has expressed interest in 

Haji Nooruddin Azizi made the point that Afghanistan had expressed its interest regarding participation in the BRI and that the 

 pertaining to the same were being discussed. Both countries have discussed plans to enhance connectivity via the 

  (located in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province) earlier this month. In May 2023, China Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to extend the 

While the presence of a representative from the ruling Taliban dispensation at the BRI forum is important, China has given no indicators regarding 

 recognition to the Taliban dispensation. It has also been argued that China has been cautious regarding investments in Afghanistan due to the prevailing security situation. In December 2022, the Islamic state (IS) group took responsibility for an attack, targeted at Chinese individuals, on a 

Beijing’s cautious approach vis-à-vis the Taliban dispensation

 to release reserves of the Afghan Central Bank – to the tune of $ 7 billion in the US – which had been frozen by Washington after the takeover by the Taliban. While advocating a more nuanced approach vis-à-vis the Taliban government, Beijing itself has also asked the Taliban to introduce social reforms – especially with regarding 

 and to combat terrorism. While the extension of CPEC till Afghanistan has been agreed to be by all three countries, strained relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are likely to be a stumbling block to the same.

Pakistan has stated that terror attacks by militant groups --  including   

 – operating from Afghanistan have risen after the take over by the Taliban. Only last month, the Torkham land-crossing was closed after 

 of fire between security forces of Afghanistan and Pakistan. On 

 over 50 people died in two explosions in religious gatherings in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunwa (KPK).

Earlier this month, Pakistan also announced that all migrants without legal status should leave the country, by October 31, 2023, else they would be deported by November 1, 2023. While senior officials in the Taliban 

 categorically stated that this move was not targeted at any specific nationality. The United Nations has also 

The Belt and Road Forum was important in terms of timing and symbolism. While the presence of an Afghan representative at the forum is important, any significant progress in economic relations between Beijing and Kabul is only possible if the Taliban addresses China’s security concerns. Afghanistan’s participation in the BRI and the extension of CPEC till Pakistan is likely to be an uphill task given the current state of relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

China’s Belt and Road Forum and Afghanistan-China ties

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