Pak-China cooperation for regional stability
Simultaneously, the US withdrawal can have influence on Pakistan. The first thing is about Pakistani internal security.
Due to their relations geography and culture, Pakistan and Afghanistan have made historically a special relationship, which is not only connected closely with the regional security and stability, but also their own internal security and stability.
Friendly and harmonious Pakistan-Afghanistan relations will contribute to regional stability and curb the rise of extremism as well as serve Pakistani security interests.
Otherwise, it could lead to regional instability, rampancy of extremism, interference from outside powers to harm Pakistani interests at last.
The second one is about Pakistani economic development. The political uncertainty in Afghanistan may cause an uncertainty about Pak-Afghan relationship to have impact on Pakistan’s economic and social development.
A troubling bilateral relationship could give rise to extremism, threaten Pakistani political and social stability to hamper its economic development.
Evidently, the major external obstacle to the China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC), a long-term important economic development and cooperation project of the two countries, is terrorist attacks by local extremists. Changes of situation in the region may entangle the construction and development of CPEC.
The necessity and feasibility of cooperation between China and Pakistan on the matters: The US withdrawal from Afghanistan is going to have unpredictable implications for the economic and security interests of the two countries and regional stability.
In order to handle efficiently potential crisis, China and Pakistan must work closely and actively with all parties in Afghanistan to promote political reconciliation in advance, achieve lasting peace and promote stable social and economic development in the region.
Pakistan is indispensable to the regional long time peace and stability. First of all, Pakistani geostrategic location and identity as an Islamic power to maintain good relations with other Islamic countries have built Pakistan’s unique role in global and regional geopolitics, especially in South and Central Asia, where its role in maintaining long-term peace and stability and countering extremism and other geopolitical issues is irreplaceable.
Secondly, Pakistan possesses a special relationship with Afghanistan on the ground of sharing history and culture.
Undoubtedly, whatever will happen to political situation in Afghanistan after the U.S. leaving Afghanistan, Pakistan’s role will be crucial to address uncertainty in the future. Just as mentioned above, Afghanistan’s prospect will have an important impact on China’s security interests.
It is imperative that China will take a positive part in Afghan affairs to facilitate political reconciliation and keep peace with the leading political power in Afghanistan.
Additionally, China’s involvement in the regional issues is not only in Chinese national interest, but also required for international responsibilities.
However, China’s participation is not meant to fill the so-called “power vacuum” left by the United States, as the Western media is suggesting. As the Chinese government says, there is no “vacuum” in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is Afghans’ Afghanistan.
In line with the principle of “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned”, China will make a commitment to playing a constructive role in promoting a political settlement to the Afghan issue on the basis of fully respecting Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
Based on the common geostrategic interests and good political mutual trust, China-Pak cooperation on Afghan affairs will effectively promote long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan and its neighbourhood.
The basic goal of China-Pakistan cooperation is to promote political reconciliation among all political forces in Afghanistan to ward off the situation out of control.
A stable, prosperous and friendly Afghanistan with neighbouring countries is a critical cornerstone to put an end to extremism and terrorism.
The way of cooperation is to actively join in the political reconciliation process with political parties, and provide necessary help for peaceful negotiations in Afghanistan, especially to back up Afghan Taliban’s regime to integrate with international community.
Besides, it is evitable that China and Pakistan with international community are going to commit to boosting Afghanistan’s social and economic construction to improve Afghan well-being to preserve peace and stability in the area with kinds of assistance, especially economic support.
Finally, the two countries work together to share information to deal with emergencies, such as “terror attack” in accordance with a certain regional cooperation institution. The collaboration is possible for the following reasons.
Firstly, the geographical convenience of China and Pakistan is conducive to cooperation with Afghanistan on political, economic and security issues.
Secondly, China and Pakistan share political, economic and security interests in the region; Thirdly, the traditional friendship and mutual political trust of both countries are the political foundation of the effective regional cooperation.
Lastly, Pakistan is destined to play a great role in the regional peace and stability for the “special” relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan and geographic and historical factors benefiting to China-Pak cooperation.
Thus the cooperation to deal with effectively the regional security issues may be more advantageous than others.
Of course, future situation in Afghanistan and neighbouring regions will not only have something to do with China and Pakistan, but be concerned seriously with neighbouring countries and other interested parties.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization that China and Pakistan are members of as well as Afghanistan as an observer state of is about to offer a security dialogue and cooperation platform with other member states.
Both countries together may make full use of the SCO platform to establish a multilateral consultation and cooperation mechanism to promote lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan and neighbouring regions with other stakeholders.
So as to achieve the above goals, the international community must recognize the reality of Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan instead of isolation from the Taliban regime on the grounds of political and religious prejudice.
The world with good faith may understand that the new Taliban regime is turning a new leaf to actively integrate into the international community for Afghan people’s welfare.
Furthermore, the international community has responsibilities to support financially and economically Afghan economic and social development with the Taliban regime for regional and global long-term peace and stability. — Concluded
—The writer is, Associate Professor, Department of History, Yunnan University in Kunming, focusing on relations of South Asian and major powers.
