US sees potential for cooperation with China in Afghanistan

Mr. Shriver made the statement in response to a question from Democratic Senator Chris Coons about the possibility that China could be a constructive partner in Afghanistan.

Afghan security forces in Kabul. Photo: AP

“I think there is potential for China to become a partner on the counterterrorism front,” Mr. Schriver said. “They certainly have their own concerns about terrorism within China, as well as the potential for terrorist groups operating elsewhere to infiltrate into China.”

“Historically, we have had some difficulties — what they define as terrorism, particularly inside China and how we view things, there are significant differences there — but Beijing does have an interest in stability in Afghanistan,” Mr. Shriver stressed.

“In our discussions with China, we focused on promoting cooperation between the two countries and how we can ensure they are a constructive partner in the ongoing process in Afghanistan,” the official said.

Also during the hearing, US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said that investment in Afghanistan under China's Belt and Road Initiative could be a motivating factor for Beijing.

US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs, Mr. Randall Schriver. Photo: AP

Referring to economic development, Mr. Sullivan said that China has invested billions of dollars in the copper mining sector in this South Asian country. Earlier, on February 6, the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported that Washington had launched a series of airstrikes in northern Afghanistan targeting Taliban training facilities, support networks and revenue sources.

In a statement, US forces in Afghanistan said: “Over the past 96 hours, US forces conducted airstrikes targeting Taliban training facilities in Badakhshan province, disrupting the planning and execution of terrorist activities near the borders with China and Tajikistan.”

The information was released after the Central Asian news agency Ferghana quoted an Afghan defense official in January as saying that China would build a new military base for Afghan armed forces in the country's northern Badakhshan province. A few weeks ago, the Chinese Defense Ministry denied the information after it was published in the US and Chinese media./.