WASHINGTON – A US department of defence report notes that Afghanistan“continues to seek Chinese pressure on Pakistan” to assist reconciliationefforts and eliminate insurgent sanctuaries.
Afghanistan to train a mountain brigade in China to patrol the WakhanCorridor, which borders China’s Xinjiang Province. China is concerned thatUighur militants transiting through the Wakhan Corridor could pose athreat to Chinese interests in the region.
The United States views China’s concern about the growth of militancy as apositive element, which could encourage Beijing to work with theinternational community to suppress terrorism in the South Asian region.
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The Pentagon also recognises Iran’s influence in Afghanistan, claiming thatTehran pursues “a multitrack strategy” of engaging and trying to grow tieswith the Afghan government, expanding trade and economic investments, and“providing calibrated support to the Taliban while trying not to alienateKabul”.
