Afghanistan Factor in the Trilateral Relations of the United States, Pakistan and China (2008-2016)

Abstract

Present day world as a global village is marked by what we call the challenges of strategic power game, oil politics, economic adventurism, military occupations and invasions in the name of ‘self-defense’. Global players have national interests and their foreign policy revolves around energy security, strategic economic interests and how to access mineral and energy reserves. Afghanistan strategic location provides access and proximity to the West Asia, the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia but peace and stability inside Afghanistan is question of the day. Hence the question to be investigated are that What is the importance of a strong and independent Afghanistan for major players like Pakistan, China and the US? What are the major grounds of convergence and divergence of interests of triangular relations in Afghanistan perspective? What are the viable policy options for Pakistan, China and the US for strategic reassurance and resolve? For conducting this research sequential mixed method design is used with three major phases namely, an initial data gathering stage, a questionnaire survey, and a qualitative data gathering phase. The United stated interests in Afghanistan revolves around myriad factors as neutralization of the Afghan Taliban threat by military means, training and arming the Afghan National Army and the Police, to strengthen the capacity of the Kabul government to govern effectively and help in economic reconstruction of Afghanistan. Pakistan wants peace and stability inside Afghanistan, to secure economic and defence interests as well to access natural resources of Central Asian Republics. While China interests revolves around economic and security, and to play role of mediator in Afghanistan peace process because the very security of Xinjiang is threatened. All these three players are having convergence on fighting against violent extremism, improving of regional relations, regional stability and peaceful dispensation in Afghanistan, dialogue with Taliban and Pakistan’s Key Role in Afghanistan peace talks. Pakistan and the US have divergences as preferential Treatment of India, growing Role of India in Afghanistan, Chinese Ingress in the Area; Challenge to US hegemonic design whereas Pakistan and China are having irritants as security of CPEC and resurgence of ETIM. China and US have divergences as role of India in future regional Afghan dispensation and Indo-US nuclear deal. Peaceful Afghanistan can be only through dialogues based on pluralism, democracy, constitutionalism and recognition of rights of minorities. The three players must counter terrorism and restore peace in Afghanistan, neutral policy towards Afghanistan and regional economic cooperation.