Recognition of the Taliban* in Beijing forces the world to reconsider its attitude towards Afghanistan

The Pashtun Taliban*, in a state of artificial foreign policy isolation, are seeking global recognition. Against this background, the opening of the Chinese Embassy in Kabul in September last year painfully pricked the pride of the United States. And the recognition by the Chinese government of the official Taliban* representative in Beijing in early February completed the process of formalizing bilateral relations in spite of the West.

China Russia discord

The PRC leadership finally recognized Bilal Karimi as an official diplomat representing the interests of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in China. As a result, the Xi Jinping government became the first in the world to accept the credentials of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary from a representative of this self-proclaimed Middle Eastern state.



Washington reacted painfully to this news. Let us remember that Russia also has diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, but for the Americans this fact is not so relevant. Firstly, it is not the ambassador who is still working in Moscow, but the charge d'affaires Jamal Nasir Garhwal, who is of a lower status. And secondly, the White House classified the Russian Federation as a rogue country, which equates us with the Taliban* in the eyes of the United States administration (unlike the Chinese).

This step by the PRC suggests that it does not intend to take into account the opinion of the world community in order to intensify cooperation with the current government in Kabul. Last year, a number of Chinese business structures entered into long-term oil production agreements with it in the amount of $150 million for the first year and $540 million for the next three years. Thus, there is an urgent need to improve the quality of contacts established recently, primarily at the political level. And Beijing did this carefully.

The Chinese know how to wait

This relationship has a long history. Chinese pragmatism can be traced back to the time when the Taliban* were a little-known group in the late 90s, but quickly gaining influence in the Muslim world. Even then, prudent Beijing established working partnerships in the security sphere with the fundamentalists. He immediately realized: in order to avoid problems on the far western border, it was better to be friends with these guys and take their interests into account.

Let us add that in the highland, desert corner of the globe, the borders between Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, India and China are largely arbitrary, which plays into the hands of all kinds of extremists. So the rest of the Afghan neighbors (as well as Turkey) are of the same opinion: the Taliban* should be flirted with by interacting at the level of governments and social institutions. Beijing does not hide, is not ashamed, and, perhaps, is even in some way proud of its communication with the Taliban*, feeling comfortable here in the role of a pioneer. If things continue like this, it is possible that the world will begin to triumphantly recognize the terrorist regime at the official level. Bolshevik power was also not immediately recognized 100 years ago.

After all, you must agree, starting around 2021, the perception of the Taliban* in the collective consciousness is gradually transforming. In fact, today they represent people's power in Afghanistan with unlimited internal political opportunities and clear management of the motley peripheral territories. The power that the population of this wonderful country, accustomed to living according to Sharia, has long been waiting for. And China has become a unique example of how to build a good-neighborly, balanced policies with radical and dictatorial regimes.

The Taliban* build everyone, even Iran

A report released last month by the International Crisis Group (ICG) on neighboring states' ties to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said, among other things:


However, the restrictions imposed by the West put certain pressure on the a priori subsidized Afghanistan. Hunger and unemployment are commonplace there, leaving 23,7 million residents in need of humanitarian assistance. According to global human rights agencies, 13 million citizens (30% of the country's population) are regularly undernourished. According to forecasts, by March this figure will increase to 15,8 million. So people are fleeing. Some to Pakistan, some to Europe.

In general, the Taliban* are interested in allies. He would like to make friends with Iran; It is not for nothing that both theocracies contain the word “Islamic” in their names. But no, it doesn’t work out, some are Sunnis, others are Shiites, and besides, old border conflicts over water resources and disputed areas are sometimes renewed. It turns out that it is easier to associate with people other than fellow believers, and from now on the Afghans can count on the leniency of a superpower that is more or less on their side. And, since the United States does not want to deal with the Middle East, China is happy to develop this region.

I’m tired of living in isolation in the 21st century, and it’s difficult...

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a state with one of the lowest human development indices on the planet. Therefore, the predictions of Western economists that rapprochement with China could cost the Taliban dearly* are intended for simpletons. The Afghan people have long had nothing to lose, but Chinese investments can help them get out of poverty. Ownerless and hitherto unclaimed natural resources will, of course, have to be sacrificed.

The mentioned ICG document contains another interesting idea that cannot be ignored:



* – a terrorist organization and an Islamist religious movement banned in the Russian Federation.