By Tridivesh Singh Maini
The two countries may well tussle for influence in postwar Afghanistan, but will also need to work together.
New Delhi and Beijing are both keen to see the visit to China by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is scheduled for May, produce something substantive. For one thing, the two countries are looking to address one of the thornier issues between them, the border dispute. The 18th round of border talks are currently underway and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has also held talks with his Chinese counterpart and State Councilor Yang Jiechi.
Both countries want progress on the contentious issue, which has long bedeviled relations. However, the border question is not the only determinant of China-India ties: the Chinese role in Afghanistan, and its efforts to connect Afghanistan with both Pakistan and Central Asia, will also have an important bearing on one of the world’s most important bilateral relationships.
In fact, Chinese economic ties with Afghanistan have been limited, mostly by security issues. Still, in 2012, China National Petroleum Company managed to secure rights to develop oil fields in the Amu Darya basin. More recently, in February 2015, at an Afghanistan-Pakistan-China trilateral dialogue, Beijing signaled plans to expand its economic footprint by announcing that it would provide grants worth $300 million over the next three years. Among the projects China announced it would undertake – which are important for Beijing’s New Silk Road (South Asia-Central Asia component) – are rail connectivity between Chaman (Balochistan) and Kandahar (Afghanistan) and a motorway from Peshawar to Kabul.
Read the full story at The Diplomat