China, the US must work together in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been in a state of war for the past four decades. The USSR, the US, and its allies have destroyed the whole country. Sophisticated weapons were live-tested and used widely. The US tested and used the biggest conventional bomb in human history. The latest technology and the most advanced tactics were used in the Afghan war by all foreign forces. Infrastructure was damaged, houses were wiped out, and millions of people were either killed, wounded, or made homeless.

A large percentage of the country’s citizens were forced to leave their homes and take refuge in neighboring countries or in safe areas in other parts of Afghanistan. The country’s agriculture has been destroyed. Because of heavy bombing and extensive use of explosives, biodiversity has been adversely affected. Environmental pollution and climate change have also had adverse impacts on Afghanistan.

It is the responsibility of all foreign nations that have damaged Afghanistan to reconstruct the country. The US has spent a trillion dollars on the Afghan war and caused enormous damage to the country in the process. It should spend an equivalent amount to reconstruct Afghanistan. Russia, as well as allies of the US, and whoever else has damaged Afghanistan should fulfill their moral obligations to reconstruct the country, and the United Nations should force them to do so.

It is the responsibility of all foreign nations that have damaged Afghanistan to reconstruct the country

In the latest move toward bringing peace to Afghanistan, the Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until September 17. It expressed support for the country taking full responsibility for its own security, governance, and development by unanimously adopting Resolution 2460 (2019), which was tabled by Germany and Indonesia. The Council asked local and international actors to work to ensure the security and free movement of UN personnel operating in Afghanistan.

However, Washington and Beijing do not see eye to eye on some issues. The UN stated, “[US representative] Jonathan R Cohen expressed strong support for UNAMA’s role in the peace process, electoral reforms, and coordination of international assistance, citing the intense diplomatic engagement of his country’s special envoy. He said he was, therefore, deeply disappointed that the Council was unable to renew UNAMA’s mandate for a year as China held it hostage and insisted on making it about Chinese political priorities, thereby forcing a technical rollover.”

Wu Haito, China’s representative, noted that UNAMA’s mandate remains unchanged and that his delegation, the UN’s summary of the proceedings stated, “made reasonable suggestions on reconstruction, the fight against terrorism, reconciliation and regional cooperation.”

The UN stated that Hu emphasized, “that the Belt and Road Initiative [BRI] is suitable for Afghanistan’s reconstruction, adding that China and Afghanistan will promote economic and social development, as well as regional integration, by cooperating in the fields of trade and transport, energy and health, with an emphasis on transparency.”

The BRI “has nothing to do with geopolitics,” Hu told the Council.

China has the money and the will to reconstruct Afghanistan. It is China’s policy to assist all neighboring countries and friendly nations in developing the economy and infrastructure of Afghanistan. Being a country bordering China, it deserves to be a development beneficiary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The Chinese win-win development approach may be what Afghanistan needs to revive its infrastructure and economy. China has the experience, technology, and investment needed by Afghanistan. China has emerged as the world’s second-largest economy and geopolitical power. China is a responsible state and understands its international obligations. Let China play its due role in the development of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of all foreign troops.

Afghanistan enjoys a strategic geopolitical location. A peaceful and developed Afghanistan is vital for the whole region.

Reference Link:- https://asiatimes.com/2019/03/us-and-china-differs-in-security-council-on-afghan-issue/

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