U.S. leaves its last Afghan base, effectively ending operations

Consultations were held in Moscow on the preparation of a draft of the Target Interstate Program of the Collective Security Treaty Organization to strengthen sections of the Tajik-Afghan border

02.07.2021 On July 1-2, 2021,

"In Moscow, in order to consider the draft of the Targeted Interstate Program of the Collective Security Treaty Organization to strengthen sections of the Tajik-Afghan border, consultations were held between representatives of interested ministries and departments of the CSTO member states.

First Deputy Commander - Chief of the General Staff of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan, Colonel Nasimjon Rajabzoda has provided the information on the situation on the Tajik-Afghan section of the state border, the manning and condition of weapons, military equipment and technical means of border protection of units of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan. After that, an exchange of views took place on the agenda of the consultations. Following the results of the work, a Protocol was signed."

Consultations were held in Moscow on the preparation of a draft of the Target Interstate Program of the Collective Security Treaty Organization to strengthen sections of the Tajik-Afghan border

What is the CSTO:

"The Collective Security Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental military alliance in Eurasia that consists of selected post-Soviet states. The treaty had its origins to the Soviet Armed Forces, which was gradually replaced by the United Armed Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States"

Collective Security Treaty Organization - Wikipedia

Statement by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization on cooperation of the Organization with States and international organizations.

May 19, 2021, Dushanbe

"The States members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) declare their interest in developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations with third countries and international organizations to maintain peace and stability in the Eurasian region, and reaffirm their willingness to build such cooperation on the basis of the generally recognized norms and principles of international law, to renounce confrontation and to tackle global issues exclusively through political and diplomatic means in accordance with the provisions and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations.

We are convinced that one way to strengthen regional security and stability is to enhance communication, including foreign policy cooperation, between CSTO and third countries and international organizations. Given the pervasive threats, primarily international terrorism, drug trafficking and other transnational challenges, and regional conflicts, the situation remains challenging. It is clear that the only way to effectively combat traditional and new challenges and threats is to consolidate international efforts.

On 19 January 2021, regulations establishing partner status and observer status with CSTO entered into force, providing interested States and international organizations that share the objectives and principles of CSTO and that wish to establish and develop contacts with the Organization with the necessary legal framework to enter into cooperation with CSTO in a mutually acceptable format. The States members of the Organization recommend taking advantage of potential opportunities in that regard.

The CSTO member States express their willingness to develop cooperation in such areas as: foreign policy dialogue and cooperation on international and regional security issues; crisis response; military cooperation; peacekeeping; combating international terrorism and extremism; information security; and countering transnational organized crime, including the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and their precursors, trafficking in arms and irregular migration.A/75/906 S/2021/534 21-07422 5/8 The CSTO member States also reiterate their willingness to establish cooperation in other agreed areas of mutual interest."


Statement by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization on cooperation of the Organization with States and international organizations

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Originally Posted by OhOh

"In Moscow, in order to consider the draft of the Targeted Interstate Program of the Collective Security Treaty Organization to strengthen sections of the Tajik-Afghan border, consultations were held between representatives of interested ministries and departments of the CSTO member states.

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Translation: Putin is shitting himself that the talitubbies will start inciting a muslim rebellion in Tajikistan, including arming them.

That's yet another dictator the old c u n t has got to prop up.

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan/KABUL, July 5 (Reuters) - Tajikistan's president on Monday ordered the mobilisation of 20,000 military reservists to bolster the border with Afghanistan after more than 1,000 Afghan security personnel fled across the frontier in response to Taliban militant advances.

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Tajikistan calls up reservists to bolster border as Afghan troops flee Taliban | Reuters

Just a couple of years ago, wasn't there rumours circulating that Russia was arming the Taliban:slomo:

Remembering who created the off-shoot Taliban from the start.
Paradoxical Blowback.

I would think Russia and the US are heartily sick of the sight of them by now. Probably work for both of them to point the nutty fuckers in the chinkies direction.

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Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I would think Russia and the US are heartily sick of the sight of them by now. Probably work for both of them to point the nutty fuckers in the chinkies direction.

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Wouldn't it behoove everyone to just leave those nutty fuckers alone?
This simple ideal could easily apply to all imperial holdings and interests the world over.

Most deluded loyalists and imperialists [such as yourself] could never grasp this concept.

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Originally Posted by HuangLao

to just leave those nutty fuckers alone

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To simple that, It'll never work.......

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Originally Posted by HuangLao

Wouldn't it behoove everyone to just leave those nutty fuckers alone?

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The western powers are not intending to leave anybody alone.

Austin approves new US Forces Afghanistan Forward command as drawdown nears early completion

Stars and Stripes • July 2, 2021

"Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday approved a new command for American forces in Afghanistan to oversee troops who will remain in the country to protect diplomats after the U.S. military drawdown ends next month, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said."

" The only U.S. troops remaining in the country will be assigned to support the embassy in Kabul."

The force will also offer “continued advice and assistance to Afghan national defense and security forces” and support counterterrorism efforts, Kirby said.

The Pentagon has said while on-the-ground counterterror operations will cease after the drawdown, the U.S. will retain “over-the-horizon” capabilities, though details have been murky."

Attention Required!

Afghanistan: UK could launch airstrikes from outside country against future terror threats, defence minister says

Monday 5 July 2021

Afghanistan: UK could launch airstrikes from outside country against future terror threats, defence minister says | UK News | Sky News

Turkey seeks US support to maintain troops in Afghanistan

June 15

Turkey seeks US support to maintain troops in Afghanistan
The failing Iraq Template fits like a glove.

1. Keep an Embassy

2. Keep excessive troops, paid mercenaries in country to defend it

3. Attacks on 1 or 2. Obliterate Afghani citizens from bases outside via planes missile from any Asian country or Indian Ocean islands.

4. Supply weapons

5. Order its vassals to do likewise

I'm sure it will be tweaked and given a catchy, suitable, easy for all to remember acronym.

My suggestion:

IASSAD-3

(Iinfinite Asian Super Short Arse Dump-3)

Version 1 and 2 are ongoing failures, Iran and Syria.

A more peaceful statement, agreed last month.

China and Pakistan Ready to Assist Economic Recovery of Conflict-Torn Afghanistan

06:05 GMT 04.06.2021

"China and Pakistan have expressed readiness to expand trade exchanges with Afghanistan and assist the country's peaceful recovery, the foreign ministers of the three nations said in a joint statement.

The joint statement was made following trilateral negotiations held in the format of a video conference on Thursday, with the agenda focused on the peace process in Afghanistan.

"China and Pakistan reiterate their strong support for the peaceful recovery of Afghanistan and stand ready to expand economic and trade exchanges with Afghanistan and help Afghanistan expand its opportunities for independent development", the Chinese foreign ministry said.

The three diplomats also noted that the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland and their reintegration into the Afghan society should be part of Afghanistan's comprehensive peace agreement.

"The sides ... expect and welcome the early return of the Taliban to the political life of Afghanistan. The parties confirm that they do not support the creation of any government of Afghanistan with the help of armed force, they support that Afghanistan becomes an independent, sovereign, secure state", the statement read.

The ministers added that the internal conflict in the Central Asian country should be settled through negotiations, calling on all parties to declare "a complete ceasefire, put an end to senseless violence and create the necessary environment for negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban" as soon as possible.

The negotiations took place within the framework of the trilateral dialogue mechanism of the foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan, Pakistan created in 2017 at the initiative of Beijing."

China and Pakistan Ready to Assist Economic Recovery of Conflict-Torn Afghanistan - Sputnik International

Why the fuck does Turkey want to keep troops in Afghanistan?

Tajikistan requested assistance from CSTO due to Afghanistan situation

MOSCOW (Agencies): Tajikistan called on the CSTO allies to help the republic cope with the challenges from Afghanistan .


“Tajikistan, as a country with the longest border with Afghanistan, is taking the necessary measures to contain the situation and counter the threats and challenges emanating from this country. area, it is difficult to cope with this task alone, “said Hasan Sultonov, Permanent Representative of Dushanbe to the CSTO, at a meeting of the organization’s permanent council.


According to Tajikistan, the situation requires an “adequate response” from the CSTO. It is necessary, among other things, to strengthen the potential “to protect the southern borders,” Sultonov added.


“In this context, the need to ensure the implementation of the decision of the Collective Security Council of September 23, 2013” On rendering assistance to the Republic of Tajikistan in strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border “remains relevant. Therefore, we would like to call on the member states of the organization to contribute to the full implementation of this document,” – concluded the permanent representative.


Representatives of the CSTO secretariat visited the border section yesterday, assessed the situation and will report on it to the organization’s permanent council.


In Afghanistan, there is a confrontation between government forces and Taliban movement, who seized significant territories in rural areas.


https://thefrontierpost.com/tajikist...tan-situation/

China evacuates 210 Chinese nationals on charter flight from Afghanistan

Chinese government has evacuated 210 Chinese nationals from Afghanistan on a charter flight to Wuhan amid a deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. The evacuation mission was widely hailed by Chinese netizens.


Xiamen Airlines flight MF8008 went to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, to pick up 210 Chinese citizens, according to Beijing Daily on Thursday.


Fifty-two on the charted flight tested positive for COVID-19, according to Hubei provincial health commission on Wednesday. Among them, 22 were confirmed and another 30 were asymptomatic.


The evacuation mission was also confirmed by Wuhan Tianhe International Airport where the flight landed.

MORE China evacuates 210 Chinese nationals on charter flight from Afghanistan - Global Times

Yup. All the poppies have been harvested. Payday!

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Originally Posted by misskit

China evacuates 210 Chinese nationals on charter flight from Afghanistan

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Well that's a good start.

:rofl:

A massive sigh of relief for many military families.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Thursday the withdrawal of all British troops from Afghanistan, signalling the end of Britain’s military mission in a two-decade long conflict.

“All British troops assigned to NATO’s mission in Afghanistan are now returning home," Johnson told the House of Commons, lower house of the British parliament.

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Boris Johnson Announces Withdrawal of UK Troops from Afghanistan

Taliban promised not to use Afghanistan to attack other countries

MOSCOW: The delegation of the Taliban has met with the special representative of the Russian president for Afghanistan, director of the second department of Asia of the Foreign Ministry Zamir Kabulov, according to a statement by the political office of the movement, which was at the disposal of RIA Novosti.


“At the meeting, the delegation of the Islamic Emirate reiterated its position that the Afghan land will not be used against anyone,” the message says.


According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, on July 8, the Russian President’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Z. N. Kabulov held consultations with a delegation from the Political Office of the Taliban Movement (TD). During the meeting, the situation in the IRA and the prospects for launching inter-Afghan negotiations were discussed.


The Russian side expressed concern over the escalation of tensions in the northern regions of Afghanistan and called for preventing its spread outside the country. Assurances were received from the Taliban regarding the non-violation of the borders of the Central Asian states by the grouping, as well as guarantees of the security of diplomatic and consular missions of foreign states on the territory of Afghanistan.


The DT representatives confirmed their interest in achieving sustainable peace in the country through negotiations, taking into account the interests of all ethnic groups of the country’s population, as well as their readiness to respect human rights, including women, within the framework of Islamic norms and Afghan traditions.


Separately, the group’s firm resolve to fight the ISIS threat in Afghanistan and to eradicate drug production in the country after the end of the civil war was emphasized. The delegation’s visit to Moscow will last two days. It was headed by one of the leaders of the political office of the movement in Qatar, Shahabuddeen Delaware, head of the department for relations with Afghan citizens.


In latest development,: the Taliban movement have hung a flag on the Afghan-Tajik border, a source in the administration of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan told RIA Novosti. “The Taliban, who seized the border post of Afghan government forces on July 5, today planted a flag on the support of their side of the bridge across the Panj River, which connects the two countries, opposite the Tajik checkpoint Tem,” the source said.


On the night of July 5, Afghan border guards surrendered their checkpoint without a fight, 312 soldiers crossed this bridge into neighboring Tajikistan.


Meanwhile, More than a thousand refugees from Afghan Badakhshan , who fled during the hostilities to the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) of Tajikistan , were placed in safe places, spokesman for the head of the region, Golib Niyatbekov, told reporters.


“More than 1000 refugees from Afghanistan who moved to the territory of GBAO, after the outbreak of hostilities, are placed in safe places, the bulk of the refugees are women, children and the elderly,” he said.


According to him, international organizations have expressed gratitude to the head of GBAO Yodgor Fayzovu at his meeting with the head of the Office of the High Commissioner of the UN for Refugees in Tajikistan, the United Nations Office for Security, the UN Resident Coordi-nator Office in Tajikistan and the Aga Khan.


During the meeting, it was emphasized that “the reception of refugees from Afghanistan, especially in the context of the tense situation in the region, economic and security problems in the context of the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19, is an example of Tajikistan’s hi-gh responsibility to humanity.” “Regional authorities are working with all government agencies, development partners and the population to provide refugees with food, housing, medical services as much as possible,” Faizov said during the meeting.

Taliban promised not to use Afghanistan to attack other countries - The Frontier Post

Is America paying any war reparations to Afghanistan? Haven't heard of anything.

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Originally Posted by sabang

Is America paying any war reparations to Afghanistan? Haven't heard of anything.

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They've paid billions.

The fact that most of it ended up in Jumeirah apartment blocks and luxury villas is not the Americans problem.

Say hello to the diplo-Taliban

Deploying diplomatic skills refined from Doha to Moscow, the Taliban in 2021 has little to do with its 2001 incarnation

by Pepe Escobar July 9, 2021

"A very important meeting took place in Moscow last week, virtually hush-hush. Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian Security Council, received Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s national security adviser. There were no substantial leaks. A bland statement pointed to the obvious: They “focused on the security situation in Afghanistan during the pullout of Western military contingencies and the escalation of the military-political situation in the northern part of the country.”

The real story is way more nuanced. Mohib, representing embattled President Ashraf Ghani, did his best to convince Patrushev that the Kabul administration represents stability. It does not – as the subsequent Taliban advances proved.

Patrushev knew Moscow could not offer any substantial measure of support to the current Kabul arrangement because doing so would burn bridges the Russians would need to cross in the process of engaging the Taliban. Patrushev knows that the continuation of Team Ghani is absolutely unacceptable to the Taliban –whatever the configuration of any future power-sharing agreement.

So Patrushev, according to diplomatic sources, definitely was not impressed.

This week we can all see why. A delegation from the Taliban political office went to Moscow essentially to discuss with the Russians the fast-evolving mini-chessboard in northern Afghanistan. The Taliban had been to Moscow four months earlier, along with the extended troika (Russia, US, China, Pakistan) to debate the new Afghan power equation.

On this trip, they emphatically assured their interlocutors there’s no Taliban interest in invading any territory of their Central Asia neighbors.

It’s not excessive, in view of how cleverly they’ve been playing their hand, to call the Taliban desert foxes. They know well what Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been repeating: Any turbulence coming from Afghanistan will be met with a direct response from the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

In addition to stressing that the US withdrawal – actually, repositioning – represents the failure of its Afghan “mission,” Lavrov touched on the two really key points:

• The Taliban is increasing its influence in the northern Afghanistan border areas; and
• Kabul’s refusal to form a transitional government is “promoting a belligerent solution” to the drama. This implies Lavrov expects much more flexibility from both Kabul and the Taliban in the Sisyphean power-sharing task ahead.

And then, relieving the tension, when asked by a Russian journalist if Moscow will send troops to Afghanistan, Lavrov reverted to Mr Cool:

“The answer is obvious.”

Shaheen speaks

Mohammad Suhail Shaheen is the quite articulate spokesman for the Taliban political office. He’s adamant that “taking Afghanistan by military force is not our policy. Our policy is to find a political solution to the Afghan issue, which is continuing in Doha.” Bottom line: “We confirmed our commitment to a political solution here in Moscow once more.”

That’s absolutely correct. The Taliban don’t want a bloodbath. They want to be embraced. As Shaheen has stressed, it would be easy to conquer major cities – but there would be blood. Meanwhile, the Taliban already control virtually the whole border with Tajikistan.

The 2021 Taliban have little in common with their 2001 pre-war on terror incarnation. The movement has evolved from a largely Ghilzai Pashtun rural guerrilla insurgency to a more inter-ethnic arrangement, incorporating Tajiks, Uzbeks and even Shi’ite Hazaras – a group that was mercilessly persecuted during the 1996-2001 years of Taliban power.

Reliable figures are extremely hard to come by, but 30% of the Taliban today may be non-Pashtuns. One of the top commanders is ethnically Tajik – and that explains the lightning-flash “soft” blitzkrieg in northern Afghanistan across Tajik territory.

I visited a lot of these geologically spectacular places in the early 2000s. The inhabitants, all cousins, speaking Dari, are now turning over their villages and towns to Tajik Taliban as a matter of trust. Very few – if any – Pashtuns from Kandahar or Jalalabad are involved. That illustrates the absolute failure of the central government in Kabul.

Those who do not join the Taliban simply desert – as did the Kabul forces manning the checkpoint close to the bridge over the Pyanj river, off the Pamir highway; they escaped without a fight to Tajik territory, actually riding the Pamir highway. The Taliban hoisted their flag in this crucial intersection without firing a shot.

The Afghan National Army’s chief, General Wali Mohammad Ahmadza, fresh into his role by appointment from Ghani, is keeping a brave face: ANA’s priority is to protect the main cities (so far, so good, because the Taliban are not attacking them); border crossings (that’s not going so well), and highways (mixed results so far).

This interview with Suhail Shaheen is quite enlightening – as he feels compelled to stress that “we don’t have access to media” and laments the “baseless” barrage of “propaganda launched against us,” which implies that Western media should admit the Taliban have changed.

Shaheen points out that “it’s not possible to take 150 districts in just six weeks by fighting,” which connects to the fact that the security forces “do not trust the Kabul administration.” In all districts that have been conquered, he swears, “ the forces came to the Taliban voluntarily.”

Shaheen makes a statement that could have come straight from Ronald Reagan in the mid-1980s: The “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan are the real freedom fighters.” That may be the object of endless debate across the lands of Islam.

But one fact is indisputable: The Taliban are sticking by the agreement they signed with the Americans on February 29, 2020. And that implies a total American exit: “If they don’t abide by their commitments, we have a clear right of retaliation.”

Thinking ahead to “when an Islamic government is in place,” Shaheen insists there will be “good relations” with every nation, and embassies and consulates will not be targeted.

The Taliban “goal is clear: to end the occupation.” And that brings us to the tricky gambit of Turkish troops “protecting” Kabul airport. Shaheen is crystal clear. “No NATO forces – that means continuation of occupation,” he proclaims. “When we have an independent Islamic country, then we will sign any agreement with Turkey that is mutually beneficial.”

Shaheen is involved in the ongoing, very complicated negotiations in Doha, so he cannot allow himself to commit the Taliban to any future power-sharing agreement. What he does say, even though “progress is slow” in Doha, is that, contrary to what was previously reported by media in Qatar, the Taliban will not present a formal written proposal to Kabul by the end of the month, The talks will continue.

Going hybrid?

Whatever the “Mission Accomplished” non-denial denials emanating from the White House, a few things are already clear on the Eurasia front.

The Russians, for one thing, are already engaging the Taliban, in detail, and may soon strike their name off their terror list.

The Chinese, for another, are assured that if the Taliban commit Afghanistan to join the Belt and Road Initiative, connecting via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, ISIS-Khorasan will not then be permitted to go on overdrive in Afghanistan bolstered by Uyghur jihadis currently in Idlib.

And nothing is off the table for Washington when it comes to derailing BRI. Crucial silos scattered across the deep state must be already at work replacing a forever war in Afghanistan with hybrid war, Syria-style.

Lavrov is very much aware of Kabul power brokers who would not say “no” to a new hybrid war arrangement. But the Taliban for their part have been very effective – preventing assorted Afghan factions from supporting Team Ghani.

As for the Central Asian “stans,” not a single one of them wants any forever wars or hybrid wars down the road.

Fasten your seat belts: It’s gonna be a bumpy ride."

Say hello to the diplo-Taliban - Asia Times

How to understand what is a "nation-building"?

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We did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build. And it’s the right and the responsibility of the Afghan people alone to decide their future and how they want to run their country.

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Access Denied

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Originally Posted by Klondyke

How to understand what is a "nation-building"?

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here you go a full PDF for you.

Nation-building in post-Soviet Russia: What kind of nationalism is produced by the Kremlin? - ScienceDirect

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The Taliban are sticking by the agreement they signed with the Americans on February 29, 2020. And that implies a total American exit: “If they don’t abide by their commitments, we have a clear right of retaliation.”

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Read and understand. Don't get your Jewish lawyers to quibble the fine print with these people.

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Originally Posted by aging one

here you go a full PDF for you.

Nation-building in post-Soviet Russia: What kind of nationalism is produced by the Kremlin? - ScienceDirect

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"Nation-building" in Afghanistan? or Nationalism"? What it has to do with your link?

And here is one more paragraph for the "achievement":

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As I said in April, the United States did what we went to do in Afghanistan: to get the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 and to deliver justice to Osama Bin Laden, and to degrade the terrorist threat to keep Afghanistan from becoming a base from which attacks could be continued against the United States. We achieved those objectives. That’s why we went.

We did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build. And it’s the right and the responsibility of the Afghan people alone to decide their future and how they want to run their country.

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Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Why the fuck does Turkey want to keep troops in Afghanistan?

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To boost its leaders standing. He may have local prblems.

Chinese FM to visit Central Asia on SCO mission for Afghan peace

ByZhao Yusha and Huang Lanlan Published: Jul 09, 2021 10:36

"As the security threats of the US military's hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan spills over to neighboring countries, Chinese foreign minister has scheduled visits to three Central Asian countries upon invitation, and will discuss with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) officials about the situation in Afghanistan.

Despite the shadow cast by Afghanistan's new situation, it propels regional countries, including China, to gaze closely into it. Analysts said there are both challenges and opportunities for China in Afghanistan's situation. By including the Afghanistan issue into the SCO agenda, not only can Beijing help further subdue the chaos left by the power vacuum in this country, but will also push ties between China and other Central Asian countries closer, they noted.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan between July 12 and 16 on the invitation of foreign ministers of the three countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced on Friday.

Wang Yi is also scheduled to attend the meeting of foreign ministers of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, where he will exchange views with other SCO member states and his Afghan counterpart on promoting regional security and stability, advancing the process of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, and deepening cooperation between the SCO and Afghanistan, Wang Wenbin said.


Attachment 71897

The US' "irresponsible and hasty" withdrawal from Afghanistan has given rise to security threats in the country, and instability has begun to spill over to regional states, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times.

Under such a circumstance, regional countries are turning to China, hoping it could coordinate a multilateral framework in dealing with the issue, according to Qian.

Led by China and Russia and created in 2001, the SCO also includes India, Pakistan and four other former Soviet republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. It has four observer states - Afghanistan, Mongolia, Belarus and Iran - and six dialogue partners. Six of Afghanistan's neighbors are members of SCO.

What gives the SCO an edge in solving the Afghan issue is its broad mandate, as it addresses the security, economic and human development agenda of Afghanistan, combining support for political stability, implementation of large-scale economic projects and assistance for social capital building, said Sun Zhuangzhi, executive director of Chinese Research Center of SCO.

Sun noted that it can also coordinate efforts of other international actors ranging from the specialized agencies of the United Nations to private foreign companies to small NGOs interested in specific avenues of collaboration with partners in and around Afghanistan.

Qian said that upholding the principle of non-interference, China's role in organizing regional countries to help restore order in Afghanistan fits its image of a responsible power and regional stabilizer. "And during the process of multilateral negotiations, China's relations with other Asian countries will be further enhanced, as such a process requires profound cooperation on various issues, be they economic, counter-terrorism, or other fields."

Help, not interfere

In an interview with This Week in Asia on Wednesday, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said the organization sees China as a "friend" to Afghanistan and is hoping to talk to Beijing about investing in reconstruction work "as soon as possible."

"China is a friendly country that we welcome for reconstruction and developing Afghanistan," Suhail said.

This is the recognition for China's active participation in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and sends a signal to Beijing to further engage in this reconstruction, as development and stability are intertwined, Li Shaoxian, director of China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, told the Global Times.

Yet analysts said that China will cautiously deal with the issue, not jump in the power vacuum left by the US. "We won't interfere, we won't try to navigate the country, we will just provide the help it needs," said Qian.

President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan as the country appeared increasingly at risk of spiraling into civil war.

He said that the US military mission there will conclude August 31, earlier than initially announced.

When US forces pulled out of Bagram Airfield, a strategic air base in Afghanistan, in the middle of the night last week, they left behind a lot of things, from bottles of water and energy drinks to civilian and armored vehicles, an Afghan general told The Associated Press.

Wang Wenbin criticized the US irresponsibility at the Friday press conference, saying that the US hypocrisy hidden behind "defending human rights and democracy" was fully exposed by its withdrawal. On the contrary, China has always supported the Afghan people to take the country's destiny in its own hands, and is willing to provide support the country needs.

Earlier this month, Wang Yi talked to his counterparts in Afghanistan and Pakistan and said the three countries had agreed to support the "substantial expansion" of investment projects to Afghanistan.

"China proposes expanding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, to help the country further accelerate its peaceful reconstruction, thus reducing the risk of turmoil," Qian said.

The expert also pointed out that the Belt and Road Initiative could bring opportunities to Afghan reconstruction.
The Chinese government has evacuated 210 Chinese nationals from Afghanistan on a charter flight to Wuhan amid a deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. The evacuation mission was widely hailed by Chinese netizens, the Global Times learned.

"This is an emergency response from China seeing that the situation in Afghanistan has rapidly escalated. Further measures for Chinese nationals depend on if the country will slide into civil war again. So that's what China and other regional countries have to keep an eye on.

A chaotic Afghanistan will deal a heavy blow to neighboring countries, as well as foreign investments in Afghanistan," said Sun."

Chinese FM to visit Central Asia on SCO mission for Afghan peace - Global Times