Vedant Saigal

Jul 18, 2023 | southasianvoices.org | Arash Yaqin |Vedant Saigal |Talal Rafi

IntroductionIn the wake of a precipitous U.S. withdrawal from Kabul, security challenges continue to take precedence in Beijing’s strategic calculus vis-à-vis Afghanistan to secure a larger foothold in Central Asia. Referred to as the “graveyard of empires,” Afghanistan has suffered over four decades of conflict, with relative stability enjoyed during the mid-2000s. The South Asian nation is once again under Taliban control – this time with greater Chinese involvement.