Four decades of war — first with the Soviet Union, then between warring tribes, then with the U.S. — prevented that from happening.
“Afghanistan in turn has what China most prizes: opportunities in infrastructure and industry building — areas in which China’s capabilities are arguably unmatched — and access to $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits.”.
For that scenario to have even a remote possibility, much depends on what happens the next few weeks.
Another report argued the “the U.S. is in no position to meddle with any potential cooperation between China and Afghanistan, including on rare earths.”.
Reports have emerged of targeted killings, a massacre of ethnic minorities, violent suppression of protests and Taliban soldiers demanding to marry local women.
“Everyone’s just in crisis mode,” said Sarah Wahedi, a 26-year-old tech entrepreneur from Afghanistan who recently fled the country.
“I don’t see the entrepreneurs getting back to business unless there’s a huge overhaul in the Taliban’s behavior. »
