Periodic Commentary
China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, recently stated that approximately 20 armed or extremist groups are currently active in Afghanistan, posing security threats to China.
These statements were issued during the envoy’s trip to Pakistan. As reported by Pakistan’s English-language newspaper, “The Express Tribune”, Yue Xiaoyong visited Islamabad on Monday, where Pakistani officials presented documents allegedly demonstrating how Afghanistan is hindering regional peace.
A closer examination of the envoy’s statement indicates that it does not represent China’s official position. Instead, it seems to be his personal interpretation influenced by the information, fabricated evidence, and briefings provided by Pakistan’s government and institutions.
It is now apparent that Pakistan seeks to advance its objectives through this propaganda effort against Afghanistan. One of these objectives is to secure China’s assistance, as Pakistan confronts significant threats to its internal economic projects due to the ongoing armed conflict in Balochistan.
Simultaneously, the Pakistani military has failed to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals within Pakistan.
Amid this failure, Chinese authorities have demanded the deployment of their own security forces in Pakistan to safeguard their nationals. If Chinese troops are stationed in Pakistan, it will substantially undermine the credibility of Pakistan’s military.
This is why Pakistan is striving to convince China that all these issues primarily stem from Afghanistan. Consequently, it frequently presents such unsubstantiated reports to China, the United Nations, and the United States.
The accusations leveled by Pakistan against Afghanistan regarding China are groundless because the crisis in Balochistan arises from Pakistan’s internal policies. The Baloch separatist movement has been active for nearly two decades, while the Islamic Emirate assumed power just three years ago.
Furthermore, Pakistan has yet to furnish credible evidence to substantiate its claims. Neither Pakistan nor China has provided proof that Afghan territory has been utilized against China’s interests.
If China relies on Pakistan’s baseless claims about Afghanistan, it risks damaging its foreign policy. Pakistan’s objective is to secure China’s backing for its proxy conflict in Afghanistan, which would jeopardize China’s impartiality.
China must establish its position on Afghanistan independently, rather than solely relying on Pakistan’s account. The strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, combined with Pakistan’s continuous propaganda campaigns, underscore profound distrust between the two nations. It would be more judicious for China to validate any accusations through impartial sources or fortify diplomatic channels with Afghanistan for direct dialogue.
Chinese authorities should understand that following the events of 9/11, Pakistan aligned itself with America’s military endeavors for economic incentives. Now that the U.S. has failed in Afghanistan and withdrawn, Pakistan is endeavoring to embroil China in a proxy conflict to salvage its declining economy.
Chinese authorities should refrain from issuing claims or statements based on unverified information from Pakistan that contradicts actual conditions on the ground. This approach would be advantageous for all involved parties.
