Sino-US Involvement in Afghanistan: Implications for South Asian Stability and Security

https://doi.org/10.53532/ss.039.03.00105

Authors

  • Sumeera Imran

Keywords:

Extremism, Separatism, Stability, Political Violence, Terrorism, Regional Spillover, Convergence and Divergence of interests, Regional Security

Abstract

In the aftermath of 9/11, the US’ and China’s engagement in Afghanistan has portrayed competitive underpinnings manifested in the matrix of great power politics. Viewed under neo-structural realism and complex interdependence perspectives, Sino-US interests have straddled on convergence and divergence, portraying the desire to subdue the other players in Afghanistan. Sino-US competitive balancing has unleashed wide implications for the South Asian regional security and stability. Within this context, this study aims to analyse Sino-US involvement in Afghanistan post-9/11 to draw implications for regional security, particularly Pakistan-India and Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. It seeks to answer the following questions: i) What is the broad pattern of Sino-US competitive involvement in Afghanistan? ii) What implications can be drawn of Sino-US competitive balancing for stability in South Asia? The study argues that Sino-US power interplay has polarised the region while unleashing negative imprints for Pakistan’s relations with both India and Afghanistan.

Published

2019-11-05

How to Cite

Sumeera Imran. (2019). Sino-US Involvement in Afghanistan: Implications for South Asian Stability and Security . Strategic Studies, 39(3), 53–72. https://doi.org/10.53532/ss.039.03.00105