MOSCOW – Speaking to Sputnik, General Mohammad Radmanesh, an Afghan DefenseMinistry spokesman, has echoed China’s high-ranking military officials whodenied reports about the creation of a Chinese military base in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh told Sputnikthat efforts are under way to form a brigade and logistics for the Afghanmilitary rather than a base for Chinese servicemen in the north-easternprovince of Badakhshan.
“Earlier, the Afghan Defense Minister visited China to discuss the creationof a brigade in Badakhshan. China expressed its readiness to cooperate[with Afghanistanlink>]on technical equipment and maintenance of the base, as well as on otherissues. There is no question of creating a Chinese military basein Badakhshan,” Radmanesh said.
Afghan political analyst Bashir Bezhan, for his part, told Sputnik thatthere are several factors behind China’s willingness to support Afghanistanlink>.
“First and foremost, China seeks to protect itself from the threatemanating from terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan,” he said.
Also, China is concerned about the current US presence in Afghanistanlink>andthe goals that Washington wants to accomplish in the region, accordingto him.
Additionally, Bezhan recalled that a major global economic player, Chinapursues economic goals when it comes to its cooperation with Afghanistan.
“Long-standing relations between immediate neighbors Afghanistan and Chinaalso add to Beijing’s drive to back Kabul,” he concluded